Lampkin Walks Esperanza Community to Hear Residents' Priorities

Ontario City Council candidate D'Andre Lampkin met with residents of Esperanza, a 55-and-older community in Ontario Ranch, to hear their perspectives on public safety, emergency preparedness, infrastructure, development, neighborhood services, and quality of life in South Ontario.

D'Andre D. Lampkin, candidate for Ontario City Council, District 3, recently completed a community listening walk through Esperanza, a vibrant 55-and-older residential community located near Ontario's southern boundary.

Lampkin walked the neighborhood, introduced himself to residents, and asked what they believe Ontario is doing well, what concerns them, and what they would like their future City Council representative to understand.

Several residents welcomed Lampkin into extended conversations about life in Esperanza and the opportunities and challenges associated with living in one of Ontario's southernmost communities.

"I am grateful to every Esperanza resident who took the time to speak with me, invite me into conversation, and share an honest perspective about the community," Lampkin said. "These discussions help ensure that campaign priorities are shaped by the people who experience South Ontario's growth every day."

The first group of residents Lampkin met said moving from Los Angeles County to Esperanza had been a positive decision.

They acknowledged that the community's location can initially feel unusual because Eastvale lies to the south, Jurupa Valley to the east, and Chino is quickly reached when traveling west. Despite being surrounded by neighboring cities, residents said they were proud to call Ontario home.

Residents spoke positively about Ontario's growth, streets, airport, professional baseball stadium, and increasing visibility throughout the region.

One resident said people in some communities may hesitate to say where they live, but Esperanza residents felt proud to identify themselves with Ontario.

Others encouraged the City to continue its current direction and said they were pleased with the community, social opportunities, and quality of life they had experienced.

"Residents did not describe Ontario as a city that needs to reverse course," Lampkin said. "They expressed pride in its progress and wanted that progress to continue while addressing the practical needs of a growing community."

Because Esperanza is located near the southern edge of Ontario, some residents initially worried about how long it might take police officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel to reach the community.

Residents said their actual experiences with emergency services and response times had been positive. They praised Ontario's police and fire services and said they had experienced good results when assistance was needed.

The conversations also created an opportunity for additional community engagement.

Residents asked Lampkin whether he would return to Esperanza for a town hall or educational conversation focused on emergency response and preparedness. Suggested topics included:

• The locations of nearby police and fire resources
• What residents should expect when requesting emergency assistance
• Checking on neighbors during emergencies
• Heat-related illness and dehydration
• Staying safe when a home lacks adequate cooling
• Household and neighborhood preparedness

Lampkin said he would welcome the opportunity to return and help connect residents with accurate public-safety and emergency-preparedness information.

"The invitation to return was one of the most meaningful outcomes of the walk," Lampkin said. "Emergency preparedness is especially important in a 55-and-older community, where extreme heat, medical emergencies, power disruptions, and isolation can create additional risks."

Residents also reported little to no reliable Wi-Fi service in parts of the Esperanza community.

Lampkin said digital connectivity should be viewed as essential infrastructure rather than merely a convenience.

For older adults, unreliable internet service can affect:

• Telehealth appointments
• Emergency alerts and public-safety notifications
• Communication with family members and caregivers
• Access to City information and online services
• Medical-monitoring and smart-home devices
• Everyday social connection

"Reliable internet access supports health, safety, communication, and independence," Lampkin said. "As South Ontario continues to develop, digital infrastructure must keep pace with roads, housing, utilities, and public services."

Several residents discussed odor concerns connected to a nearby dairy or agricultural property undergoing development.

They said the City responded quickly when complaints were submitted. Residents reported that City personnel inspected the property, communicated their findings, and followed up with the community.

They also said Mayor Paul Leon met with residents to discuss the concern and possible steps to address it.

One resident said the City's Community Improvement Department acknowledged that practices on the property were not adequately controlling the odor.

Although the smell remained a concern, residents repeatedly praised the speed and seriousness of the City's response.

"This was an important example of what responsive government looks like," Lampkin said. "Residents raised a quality-of-life concern, City representatives investigated it, communicated with the neighborhood, and remained engaged."

Construction associated with new residential development was another topic raised during the walk.

One resident said the ongoing construction was disruptive and believed some of the new homes were too small to provide adequate space for families.

At the same time, he said he generally liked the direction in which Ontario was moving and viewed much of the current disruption as temporary.

Another resident reflected on how much Ontario had changed and said he wished he had purchased property in the city 40 years earlier, when Ontario was considerably smaller.

He encouraged Lampkin, should he be elected, to continue building on the City's progress.

Other residents said they saw no major issues in the neighborhood and did not believe significant changes were needed.

The final group of residents Lampkin spoke with said they rarely saw Ontario Police Department patrol vehicles in Esperanza.

They acknowledged that the limited visibility might reflect the community's low level of reported crime and relatively few calls for service.

Their request was not primarily for greater enforcement. Residents said they would appreciate more opportunities to see and interact with officers in the neighborhood.

Lampkin said the distinction was important.

"Residents were not describing Esperanza as unsafe," Lampkin said. "They were expressing a desire for visible, relationship-based public safety and more opportunities for positive interaction with the officers who serve their community."

Residents also reported concerns about drag racing near Mill Creek Avenue and Eucalyptus Avenue.

Lampkin said the location should be documented and referred for appropriate traffic-safety review.

Residents raised specific concerns about the intersection of eastbound Eucalyptus Avenue and Hamner Avenue.

They said drivers were previously able to make left turns onto northbound Hamner Avenue from two lanes. The configuration was later changed so that one lane is now designated for left turns while the second continues east toward an industrial access road.

Residents said the current striping is confusing and would like the second lane restored as a left-turn lane or modified so drivers could either turn left or continue east.

Residents also questioned why Belgrave Avenue narrows to one lane when they believe sufficient space exists to maintain two travel lanes.

"These are the kinds of specific observations that can only be fully understood by speaking with the people who use the roads every day," Lampkin said. "Traffic design should be safe, understandable, and responsive to actual travel patterns."

Esperanza residents said they were looking forward to the installation of new sidewalks as surrounding residential communities continue to develop.

The sidewalks are expected to improve pedestrian access and help connect Esperanza with nearby neighborhoods.

For residents in a 55-and-older community, safe and continuous pedestrian infrastructure can support mobility, recreation, social interaction, and access to nearby services.

Lampkin said those improvements demonstrate why infrastructure planning must accompany residential growth from the beginning.

One resident said South Ontario needs a Trader Joe's.

Lampkin laughed because the request has become a recurring topic in local social-media conversations, particularly through the Ontario Ranch Life Instagram community.

Although the decision to open a store ultimately belongs to the private company, Lampkin said the recurring request reflects a broader desire for more diverse grocery, dining, retail, and service options in District 3.

"Residents want South Ontario to feel complete," Lampkin said. "They want quality amenities close to home and economic development that improves daily life."

Two conversations during the walk were especially personal for Lampkin.

After he introduced himself, two residents said they already knew who he was and asked whether he was connected to the D'Andre D. Lampkin Foundation.

One resident said they had benefited from Foundation programming. Another said a social-media post shared by Lampkin had been inspiring and reaffirmed their belief that good people still exist in the city.

Lampkin said the recognition was emotional because it demonstrated that years of community service had reached people he had never personally met.

"I did not begin serving this community because I planned to run for office," Lampkin said. "Hearing that residents had benefited from the Foundation's work reminded me that service creates relationships and impact long before an election begins."

The listening walk revealed a community that is generally satisfied with Ontario and proud of the City's direction.

Residents praised:

• Police and fire services
• Emergency-response experiences
• The City's responsiveness to complaints
• Ontario's growth and public investments
• The airport and baseball stadium
• Social activities and neighborhood quality of life
• The pride associated with living in Ontario

Residents also identified areas deserving attention:

• Emergency preparedness for older adults
• Limited Wi-Fi and digital connectivity
• Dairy and agricultural odors
• Construction impacts and housing design
• Police visibility and community interaction
• Drag racing near Mill Creek and Eucalyptus Avenues
• Confusing lane configurations at Eucalyptus and Hamner
• Street narrowing on Belgrave Avenue
• Sidewalk connectivity
• Additional retail and grocery options

Lampkin emphasized that these conversations represent the perspectives of the residents he met and should not be treated as a scientific survey of the entire community.

However, he said they reinforce a broader message heard throughout District 3: residents are proud of Ontario's progress and want that progress supported by responsive services, thoughtful infrastructure, public-safety partnerships, reliable connectivity, and amenities that improve everyday life.

Lampkin thanked Esperanza residents for their hospitality, candor, encouragement, and willingness to remain engaged.

"I am grateful to everyone who stopped to speak with me, welcomed me into conversation, shared a concern, or told me what they believe Ontario is doing well," Lampkin said. "The purpose of these walks is not simply to collect comments. It is to build relationships, identify opportunities for follow-up, and make sure residents know their experiences matter."

Lampkin plans to continue walking communities throughout District 3 and to follow up regarding the proposed emergency-preparedness conversation in Esperanza.

Residents can share additional feedback, ask questions, volunteer, and receive campaign updates at LampkinForOntario.org. Follow the campaign on Facebook and Instagram at @LampkinForOntario.

Service • Experience • Community

Paid for by Lampkin for Ontario City Council 2026.