Marcus Fuller, City Manager
City of Rialto
150 S. Palm Avenue
Rialto, CA 92376
Dr. Cuauhtémoc Avila, Superintendent
Rialto Unified School District
182 E. Walnut Ave.
Rialto, CA 92376
RE: Rialto Unified School District International Healing Garden Project
Dear Mr. Fuller and Dr. Avila,
I write to congratulate Rialto and the surrounding communities on the California State Assembly Budget Committee’s approval of your budget request for $1,000,000 to the Rialto Unified School District (RUSD) for an International Healing Garden Project. This project will allow the school district to educate families in Assembly District 47, and the larger region, about our local climate vulnerabilities and promote climate resiliency.
Per the instructions of the Assembly Budget Committee, funding for district-level requests must be allocated through a local government fiscal agent. I appreciate The City of Rialto’s willingness to serve as the point of contact for this request and thank them in advance for their assistance in transferring the approved funding to RUSD for the purposes of this project, as stipulated in the language of the 2021 Budget Act (AB 129, Ting)
RUSD plays a central role in connecting and serving the community members of Rialto. The school district is the largest employer in the City, employing over 2,700 people, and serves about 25,000 students in Rialto and the surrounding community. RUSD is dedicated to supporting community awareness about the green economy and developing a shared identity around the stewardship of water, air, and land.
The funding provided through the this year’s State Budget will help RUSD create an International Healing Garden project aimed at building a regional climate network that promotes community health and wellness. The project will advance the region’s integration of community based water resilience strategies to better prepare for drought and new flood patterns, increase vegetation, and teach community members about vegetation’s role in air quality management strategies. It will also promote awareness and preparedness for the green economy, and encourage civic engagement by educating the community and empowering local voices.
Thank you for your attention to this letter. I look forward to your continued partnership as we create a more climate resilient community for future generations to enjoy. If you have any questions, please contact my Chief of Staff, Mark Farouk at (916) 319-2047.
Sincerely,
Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes
47th Assembly District
Cc: Assemblymember Phil Ting, Chair, Assembly Budget Committee.