Daily Archives: February 4, 2010

iePolitics: Ramos at it again?

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Throughout the investigation into the sexual harassment complaint against San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos, iePolitics suggested that the final report against Ramos would be scathing.  That was based on several factors.  First, we had seen some of the evidence first hand—evidence that we mistakenly believed could not be covered up.  Second, we had sources close to the investigation.  Third, Ramos loves to drink and spill his guts.  Even he confided to his drinking buddies that his days were numbered.

We expected the report to be out some time in November, but suddenly there was one delay after another.  And, Ramos started flexing his muscles once again, sending his investigators out to harass members of the Board of Supervisors and their staffers with frivolous questioning and intimidation.  Then we heard of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) referrals just days before the report was to go before the Board of Supervisors and guessed a deal had been cut.  It was upsetting, but not surprising, to see the final report.  No one can objectively look at that final report and not come to the conclusion that something smells, stinks actually.

The report reeks so badly of deal-cutting between certain members of the Board of Supervisors and Ramos that  formal calls have been made for federal investigators to intervene to determine if crimes have been committed.   Several current and former Government Center employees have already interviewed with federal investigators regarding Ramos’ actions.

When one compares the aggravated circumstances of Second District Supervisor Paul Biane’s FPPC filings (or lack thereof) and newly-hired County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux’s “mistake” to the approach taken with Jim Erwin, it is obvious one or more persons have been given special treatment.  The question is, “In exchange for what?”  And that exchange, if proven, carries far harsher criminal penalties than an FPPC fine.

Despite inaccurate headlines by local newspapers, the already-completed report did NOT clear Ramos of lying to the public nor did it clear him of the allegations that he had a sexual relationship with one or more subordinate employees or of having a sexual relationship with Public Defender Doreen Boxer, which could be the most problematic of all of the allegations against Ramos.  The report also did not clear his executive staff and some attorneys of sexual rendezvous with subordinates in the stairwells, misuse of county vehicles, time card fraud, political activity on county time, illegal wiretaps, and a host of other allegations that appear to have enough footing to warrant further investigation. Continue reading →

Senator Robert Dutton: Dutton Takes Aim at State Regulations

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Senator Dutton's Banner

For Immediate Release
February 4, 2010		 Contact: Larry Venus
(916) 651–4031

Dutton Takes Aim at State Regulations

Bill requires Auditor to recommend eliminating regulations

SACRAMENTO – Senate Republican Leader-elect Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) is keeping his pledge to protect and create jobs in California by identifying and eliminating unnecessary state regulations.

Senate Bill 942 calls upon the non-partisan State Auditor to review existing regulations and to recommend eliminating those found to be unnecessary or too costly. The bill also requires that regulations sunset after 10 years unless they are determined necessary.

“The regulatory maze in California is mind boggling,” said Senator Dutton. “Over decades of time state bureaucrats have developed one of the most confusing and burdensome regulatory systems on the planet.”

More than 600,000 Californians lost their jobs over the past year. The unemployment rate statewide is 12.4 percent, one of the highest in the nation. In San Bernardino and Riverside Counties the unemployment rate is 14 percent.

The well-respected Economist magazine observed that California’s “high taxes, coupled with intrusive regulation of business and greenery taken to silly extremes, have gradually strangled what was once America’s most dynamic state economy.”

“California’s economy can thrive once again, but only if state government comes to its senses and helps employers make a profit so they can hire people,” continued Dutton. “There are millions of people in this state who want a job. Let’s pass common sense bills like SB 942 that will help put California families back on the road to prosperity.”

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Senator George Runner: Week in Review

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Senator George Runner - Week In Review

California Supreme Court upholds the will of the people and rights of victims

News of the Week
State, city officials make time for business owners’ concerns
State health takeover: Are they kidding?
Court Ruling Upholds Jessica’s Law
Remembering courage and sacrifice
Californians Lose their Parking Privileges

The California Supreme Court made the right choice on Monday when it sided with voters and victims by upholding Jessica’s Law 2,000-feet living restriction for sex offenders who were paroled after the date the law was passed.

I am pleased with the ruling. The court has upheld the will of the voters and the rights of victims who, let’s not forget, have suffered from the hands of society’s worst criminals.

The court’s ruling is consistent with the intent behind Jessica’s Law, which is to provide better safety for children by preventing paroled sex offenders from living near schools.

According to the Declaration of Independence, our leaders have the right to rule only with ‘the consent of the governed’ and the California Supreme Court proved that today.

It’s a good day for Californians and for Democracy. Continue reading →

Congresswoman Bono Mack: Reckless Spending Must Stop

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Washington, DC – Emphasizing that Washington needs to stop out-of-control and reckless spending, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) today issued the following statement in opposition to House passage of a shocking $1.9 trillion (15.3 percent) debt increase:

“Congressional Democrats are proving that they are all talk, and no action when it comes to fiscal responsibility,” said Bono Mack.  “Raising the debt limit by 15.3 percent on the coattails of passing a massive new budget plan to fund bigger government is yet another shocking example of how out of touch Washington is with the needs of the American people. Continue reading →

Senator Robert Dutton: Mentally Disordered Offenders

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Dutton Report Alert

Bill responds to Upland murder, places restrictions on mentally disordered offenders

Senator Dutton discusses his proposed legislation on John and Ken

To make our neighborhoods safer, I am crafting legislation that will give more control to local authorities when mentally disordered offenders are released back into neighborhoods.

Many of you are aware of a homicide that took place in Upland last month. The murder took place in an unsupervised home where seven male offenders were living. All seven men had been released from mental hospitals under the Department of Mental Health’s Forensic Conditional Release Program (ConRep).

It turns out that because of some quirks in the law, local communities are kept in the dark when high-risk individuals like these seven offenders are placed in their communities.

In the next several days I will be introducing a bill that will do three things:

  1. Allow the District Attorney’s office to notify local law enforcement agencies when a ConRep individual is being placed in their community.
  2. Prohibit these individuals from living closer than 2,000 feet from a school – the same as Jessica’s law.
  3. Limit the number of ConRep individuals who can reside in the same home to three.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk about this issue on the popular John and Ken radio show on KFI 640. I invite you to listen to an audio recordering of the interview.

I will keep you up-to-date on the progress of this common sense legislation as it is considered by the Legislature in the weeks to come.

iePolitics: Story Updates

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The situation at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is more serious than even I realized.  I have not been writing about it because of the type of investigation that is going on.  This investigation is not being completed by the county or standard state agencies that normally investigate the hospital.  I will update as information becomes available.  I do expect to see at least one termination at a very high level and there is a potential for criminal charges being brought. Continue reading →

iePolitics: SBPEA General Manager Playing Both Sides

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San Bernardino County Budget Whiz Extraordinaire Dean Arabatzis is claiming that if county employees once again agree to forgo their raises this year (that is last year’s raise and this year’s raise), layoffs will not be necessary.  We all suspect smoke and mirrors.  It will be interesting to see if that projection remains the same once newly-hired County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux starts to work officially. Continue reading →

Congresswoman Bono Mack: President’s Budget Proposal Borrows, Spends Too Much

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Washington, DC – Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) today issued the following statement on the Administration’s $3.8 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2011:

“Despite recent calls for fiscal responsibility, the Administration’s budget proposal represents more of the same – reckless spending that piles on more debt and more taxes on every day Americans,” said Bono Mack.  “It is past time for Washington to get its budget under control – we cannot afford this aggressive expansion of government programs that only adds to our unsustainable budget outlook. Continue reading →

iePolitics: Havasu Lake Municipal Advisory Council

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It seems our illustrious San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt and his Chief of Staff David do not care that they have a three-time felon running the show in one of the communities in their district.  Here is the latest announcement:

MAC REPORT
We will be scheduling a MAC meeting
For sometime in March. I hope to have
discussion/answers regarding the following
items:
- Plan for our next assigned Sheriff Deputy
-Updates on the Havasu Water Company
from our citizens committee
-17 Mile Road Cleanup
-New roof for the senior center

Time and date of the meeting will be posted
as soon as possible.

Gary

Continue reading →

Paul Chabot: Endorsement

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(INLAND EMPIRE, CA) – The California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) announced its unanimous support and endorsement of Paul Chabot for the 63rd Assembly. CPCA is dedicated to serving over 1,400 active and retired municipal California police chiefs. Municipal police chiefs are responsible for providing front line law enforcement services to more than 78% of Californians.

“I am grateful and honored to receive the support of the California Police Chiefs Association. Law enforcement leaders are dealing with a number of challenges in today’s climate. They can count on me to fight every single day for public safety and victims rights. Having worn the badge myself for nearly 15-years, I understand and appreciate the very difficult and dangerous job asked of the men and women who protect the thin blue line. I am forever grateful for their leadership and service,” said Chabot.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Devereaux showing who’s boss or exhibiting strong leadership capabilities?

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“Cautiously optimistic” and “nervous” are two of the phrases I have heard repeatedly about San Bernardino County’s new head honcho, County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.  Even before assuming office, Devereaux has ended a decades-long policy of 9-80s for county management, a move that makes line staff very nervous as many depend on “flex time” to survive in these hard economic times.  But it is also a sign that Devereaux is not going to be afraid to lead.

After six years of despot leadership by former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer and his band of thugs, it is easy to understand why line staff are wary of our new leader.  I’ve been asked my opinion repeatedly by everyone from the lowest level employee to managers to newspaper reporters.  Here is my standard response:

Seeing Devereaux’s close, personal relationship with the Fourth District makes me nervous on a personal level, especially when considering what the Fourth District recently did to me.  That being said, I have two friends who are long-term city of Ontario employees who have nothing but respect for Devereaux.  They are rank-and-file and are allowed to work 9-80s.  Ontario employees, most of whom are represented by San Bernardino County Public Employees Association, have the best contracts of any governmental agency in San Bernardino County.

From what I hear from those that know Devereaux, he is tough but also fair.  I also hear he will not take the crap from county managers that Uffer not only tolerated, but encouraged.   He will not play the games Uffer played and will not tolerate bad managers.  Unlike Uffer, he is consistently described as a ‘professional.’ Continue reading →

InlandPolitics Commentary: S.B. County: Stringer and Hueston bilking taxpayers? (Update 1)

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  • Written by Blogger
  • Posted February 4, 2010 at 11:41 am

InlandPolitics.com has learned that the outside law firm hired by county supervisors to handle litigation against former Assessor Bill Postmus and five others has already exceeded its budget with little or nothing to show for it.

Attorneys John Hueston and Leeran Factor from the law firm of Irell and Manella were given an appropriation limit of $500,000 by county supervisors last spring. A number already well above any potential recovery in the litigation.

County sources now say expenses have inexplicably escalated and the amount is now approaching $700,000. However, county supervisors have given no additional spending authority above the original amount.

County supervisors are described as being distressed over the situation. Continue reading →

InlandPolitics: Riverside County supervisors rake in the campaign cash

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  • Written by Administrator
  • Posted February 4, 2010 at 3:55 pm

The campaign finance disclosure statements for members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors show healthy sums for all members with the exception of Jeff Stone who is seeking state legislative office.

Here is the annual summary for all five supervisors who collectively raised $ 1,048,448.90 in 2009.

Excellent job in a poor economy.

SUPERVISOR           CONTRIBUTIONS   EXPENSES      CASH ON HAND

Bob Buster           $ 250,453.25    $ 215,632.20  $ 167,261.80
John Tavaglione*     $ 138,555.00    $ 244,672.73  $ 421,458.13
Jeff Stone           $  66,575.00    $ 122,667.62  $   1,035.02
John Benoit*         $ 342,412.44    $  65,493.13  $ 288,023.95
Marion Ashley*       $ 250,453.25    $ 215,632.20  $ 167,261.80

* Candidate for election or re-election in June 2010

Source: Riverside County Registrar of Voters

Unlike their San Bernardino County brethren, the Riverside County bunch seems to be a little more frugal with their cash spending habits.

A brief review of the expenditures revealed no payments to criminal law firms.