A People’s History of the Inland Empire Digital Archive

Anthony VIctoria describes the evolution of the Inland Empire through the early 2000s into the 2020s, mentioning the growth of the supply chain industry and how that process gradually impacted him and his family’s way of living. Further into the interview, he attempts to outline the responsibilities of residents in the IE, along with the legal actions that said groups could take to combat the unchecked growth of the supply chain industry.

In this interview, Anthony Victoria speaks about the different ways in which groups have damaged communities in the Inland Empire, and uses the newly built Amazon Air Cargo Facility as an example to go into the impact that warehouses have had on the environment in the IE. He goes on to talk about the ways in which they trap consumers, forcing them to partake in the destruction of the environment. He acknowledges that the companies provide resources to people, but notes that the practice is exploitative.

This interview deals primarily with the average life of a San Bernandino resident, and outlines the issues that they may have with their municipal government. It highlights on the inequality that remains despite the growth of jobs in the industry, and notes the lack of regulation, or ‘quality,’ in the jobs.

Anthony Victoria interviews an older member of the Jurupa Valley community and her struggles with the change of environment in the IE, ranging from aspects affecting daily life to outright dangerous health effects. Big concentration in the growth of traffic and cars in the area.

In this interview, Henry Vasquez discusses his family history in Mexico and the U.S., changes in San Bernardino during his life, his observations of the people in South Colton, and the the encroachment of warehouses on the community of Bloomington, as well as the pollution that comes with them. He actively resists the increase of warehouses in the area, and shares his perspective as an Indigenous person from Mexico, addressing Native beliefs about the land.

Black and white photograph of the interior of Palmer Leland "Richey" Richardson's garage on 17 W. Central Ave in Redlands. On the back reads "Inside Richey's Garage 17 W Central Ave Redlands, Calif. we took in storage of cars for La Posada Hotel. Leland spent many nights at garage. Leland Richardson swept the floor twice a day, that is why it was so clean. Palmer Leland Richardson owner took foto."

Black and white photograph of the construction of Highway 99 along Central Ave in Redlands California. Written on back "17 W. Central Ave. Redlands Calif. In front of Richey's Garage on left looking west. Digging up st. to put a drainage ditch before putting Highway 99 through town on Central Ave. Looking west. Palmer Leland Richardson owner took photo." Highway 99 was once the road that is now Redlands Blvd. Highway 99 was established in 1926 as a route that ran from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state. The road was decommissioned in 1964 after the creation of the 1-10 and I-5 freeways and redesignated as Redlands Blvd.

Black and white photograph of the construction of Highway 99 along Central Ave in Redlands California. Written on back "17 W. Central Ave. Redlands Calif. In front of Richey's Garage on left looking west. Digging up st. to put a drainage ditch before putting Highway 99 through town on Central Ave. Looking west. Palmer Leland Richardson owner took photo." Highway 99 was once the road that is now Redlands Blvd. Highway 99 was established in 1926 as a route that ran from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state. The road was decommissioned in 1964 after the creation of the 1-10 and I-5 freeways and redesignated as Redlands Blvd.

Black and white photograph of the construction of Highway 99 along Central Ave in Redlands, California. The street is dug open with only the sidewalk and a bit of street remaining. On the right you can see Palmer Leland "Richey" Richardson's Garage. Across the street is the La Posada Hotel. Written on back: "1930's Redlands, Ghost Town, Central Ave, Redlands California looking east toward Orange St. Richey's Garage on right at sign on roof looking east toward Orange St. Palmer Leland Richardson, owner. Elton Hotel on Left. Palmer took foto." Highway 99 was once the road that is now Redlands Blvd. Highway 99 was established in 1926 as a route that ran from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state. The road was decommissioned in 1964 after the creation of the 1-10 and I-5 freeways and redesignated as Redlands Blvd.

Black and white photograph of the construction of Highway 99 along Central Ave in Redlands, California. The street is dug open with only the sidewalk and a bit of street remaining. On the right you can see Palmer Leland "Richey" Richardson's Garage. Across the street is the La Posada Hotel. Written on back: "1930's Redlands, Ghost Town, Central Ave, Redlands California looking east toward Orange St. Richey's Garage on right at sign on roof looking east toward Orange St. Palmer Leland Richardson, owner. Elton Hotel on Left. Palmer took foto." Highway 99 was once the road that is now Redlands Blvd. Highway 99 was established in 1926 as a route that ran from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state. The road was decommissioned in 1964 after the creation of the 1-10 and I-5 freeways and redesignated as Redlands Blvd.

Black and white image of Redlands' first Head Start preschool in 1968. From left to right: Carlos Ojeda, Bobby Gonzales, and an unidentified University of Redlands student work together to assemble a playset.

Black and white image of Eva Romero Villegas with nephew Donald Motgomery, a sailor during World War II. Donald graduated from the University of Redlands and went on to teach at Redlands schools.

Black and white image of Manuel "Manny" Villegas and his wife Eva Romero. Manny was an honor educator and community advocate known throughout the Inland Empire. He was an advocate for community programing including Folklorico dancing, Scouting, and the first Spanish Club at Redlands High School.

Black and white image of Harris Dalhberg, Ben Romero, and Frank Romero shown working at Fairbanks Ranch in the late 1950s.

Color photograph of Concepcion (Concha) Romero standing in front of the orange groves at Fairbanks Ranch. Concepcion Romero was an active member of the Divine Savior Church and was an entrepreneur. She ran restuarants and made tamales and tortillas. Her daughter Eunice Romero (Gonzales) noted, "My mother had a restaurant right here on Colton Avenue, on Lawton and Colton. There was a gas station and then a little restaurant up on old Third Street, and then her final restaurant was on Stuart and Third Street, and they were all Romero restaurants."

Ramon Romero, one of the founders of Divine Savior Church, sits with his granddaughter Esther Romero at 1140 Ohio Street in the 1920s. The Romero family lived on the same street for over 100 years. Another granddaughter, Ramona Romero Dalhberg wrote a letter stating, "My grandfather used to have a horse named Jack and a cart and on Sunday mornings they would hold church meetings on street corners, like Calhoun Street and Brockton and different places. Then the men got together to talk about forming a Presbyterian Church. Gavino Trevino owned property on the corner of Webster and Union, which he donated, and they drew plans for a building. The building consisted of one large room with the front door facing Webster Street. It was a very well made building with a big porch in front."

"Eunice Romero (Gonzales) was a bilingual instructional aid in the 1970s. She recalled one of the biggest controversies ever to engulf the Northside, 'When my children started going to school, there was always this measure of prejudice, especially when they started with this business of integrating the schools. You could see the prejudice, that these people didn't want our kids from the Northside at their schools any more than we wanted theirs over here because it was a two way street.'" Eunice was also active in the parent-teacher association (PTA), Divine Savior Church, and community groups in North Redlands. (Vasquez and Carpio, 46)

Angie Balderas is a lifelong resident of the Inland Empire. Living in San Bernardino County in the early 2000’s she personally witnessed and experienced the negative impacts caused by warehouse “booms” and expansions. These include community displacement and health issues. From a young age, Balderas has been involved in clubs and organizations that have helped serve her community. She credits this passion for public service that involves activism, organizing, and legislative work because of witnessing and suffering from the impacts of environmental injustices. Balderas works alongside many organizations such as “We Are Colton” to help people and communities that have been affected by large corporations. She is fighting for current and future generations to have access to clean air pollution and not have their livelihoods disrupted. Balderas makes it clear that being resilient and having a strong united community is key to fighting back against injustices.

Ana Carlos is a resident of Bloomington, California. She is an environmental justice activist who is fighting against the "Bloomington Business Parks” development. In this interview, she drives around Bloomington and demonstrates areas in town that will be replaced by businesses. Some locations she points out are rural areas with livestock and suburban neighborhoods. Carlos mentions that these neighborhoods are being targeted by developers and homeowners are being harassed into selling their homes.

This interview explores the history of the warehousing industry using Andrea and her family as a focal point for the development of the industry. She discusses her family’s experience, including the injuries and incredibly difficult periods of time where her mom had to live in parking lots, going between one warehouse and the next, and attempts to come to a conclusion of whether the experiences were worth the pain or not. Andrea also describes the climate of the warehousing industry when her parents became involved and the changes which have occurred over the years when they have been working. Additionally, there is some discussion of large corporations like Amazon and Ring and their influence in the industry. The interview concludes with a discussion of how the industry could be improved and steps that could be taken to ensure greater workplace safety for workers, as well as a brief overview of the environmental impact of the trucking and warehouse distribution industry.

Throughout this interview, Andrea gives her thoughts about environmental justice in California, and how political power is important for people on both sides of environmental justice. Additionally, she discusses how the Air Quality Management District is one of the only government agencies that has the capability to enact change when it comes to environmental justice. Following this, Andrea looks at historical attempts to regulate industrialization, in some ways early forms of environmental justice. Returning to the modern day, she lists a few reasons why people should be invested and active in the community of environmental justice and discusses some politicians who are on both sides of the environmental justice issue.

This small black and white photograph is one of a series of two photograph showing the unidentified young man "before" and "after" donning military uniform for World War II. From unknown civilian to unknown soldier.

This unidentified man stands in front of a common symbol for the era, the segregated barbershop. For decades, segregation in shops and services was common in Redlands. Manasses Soto recalls: "When I'd go downtown to get a haircut I couldn't get a haircut because the signs said, 'For Whites Only' and that kind of disturbed me because I was a student going to school and I couldn't see it in school with the students too much, but the adults seemed to push it on us. The only person that would take me to give me a hiarcut was Abe. We used to call him Abe Lincoln. He had whiskers and he had a barbershop downtown, and he used to go every year when they had the Lincoln Memorial Parade and they had a celebration for Lincoln at the Bowl, he would go and give a speech and that was very enjoyable to see the guy that gave me the haircuts."

Three solders identified from left to right as "Babe," Mac," and Nello" pose at a Panama City Bar in 1947. The back reads: "Taken in Panama City, Sept 13, 1947" Nello, Mac, Me, My love (Babe).

Three soldiers sitting on a rock or log near a forest. They are in military dress and are posing for the camera.