One can only imagine the discussion during the special closed-door San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, called by Supervisor Josie Gonzales. I wonder which of the four remaining supervisors will be blessed with the duty of having to explain to Gonzales the identities of John Does 4 and 5. At least it will be entertaining for the others.
So Josie, since you seem to think the Board of Supervisors needs to investigate itself, where do you propose to start? Do you realize that all four of the remaining supervisors and a number of their support staff “profitted” from the Colonies settlement in one way or another. So, do you believe that the other four supervisors should place themselves on Administrative Leave and let you run the show?
The biggest “profiteer” was Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, to the tune of $100,000 for his campaign, and he wasn’t even a board member who voted for it. Postmus even told me that he kept Mitzelfelt out of it because he doesn’t believe in involving staff in such high-level decisions.
Supervisor Derry also “profited” from the settlement and he hadn’t even been elected to office yet. Supervisors Ovitt and Biane “profited” from it as did several of their support staff.
But Josie, what you are not getting and what Moonbeam and Lil’ Willy aren’t explaining to you in simple enough terms is that there is no nexus between the PAC money donated months or more later and the settlement. Josie, here’s a link to explain the hard words: Dictionary
Josie, what do you think you are going to accomplish? Oh, I know. Allowing everyone who doesn’t know already just how dumb you really are.
Wasn’t Gonzales’ Chief of Staff offered a bribe year before last?
People don’t offer out of the blue for no reason.
And on the subject of gonzales being an idiot, you’re right.
Wouldn’t the “Right Thing” to do is give back the money to any PAC’s involved. Oh wait, that means less money for campaining.
Maybe Mikey and Jerry will be waiting with handcuffs so they get to feel them on their wrists.
Since its a closed meeting, it will be interesting what they discuss. Maybe they will sing
“Who be the next in line, who be the next in line after me?”………
I think we will see some board members showing up with attorneys, and will be advised to not say or do anything. Kinda like a slient movie, the lips are moving, but you don’t what they are saying.
I wonder who will leak out what they discuss?
Administrator, why do you beleve everthing Postmus tells you. If Bill leaves staff out of such high-level decisions, why was Adam Aleman involved, wasn’t he on Bill’s staff? Just a thought. Also, I find it interesting that you are attacking the one clear honest Supervisor San Bernardino County has. She might not be the brightests, but she sure is the most honest.
I think it is politically stupid and ironically amusing that she would call for a CLOSED DOOR session. This is a great start to restoring credibility in San Bernardino County goverment. What a moron!
Publius, Adam wasn’t involved. That is one of the reasons why he is not credible. Everything he gave investigators was hearsay and rumor. He had no first-hand knowledge of any of it, which will be shown at trial.
Sharon with all respect to you….Postums is back in the pipe…he lies and has not a shred of credibilty…and you want him in your council?
Sharon, I read the arrest warrant and Adam provided information that is not hearsay. Truthseeker is right Postmus has been lying to you for a long time and you keep believing him. It is time to wise up.
Plubius,
Youre not getting it. Adam lied to investigators. He was not involved in the Colonies Settlement. He has NO first-hand knowledge. This can be verified with everyone involved.
Do you mean the defendant’s, not sure if I would beleive anything that comes from them.
You seem to forget that Adam is also a defendant and his charges include falsifying information to the Grand Jury.
And I might add, I’ve spent several hours on the phone with Adam discussing his accusations and he simply is not credible. Wait until he has to testify and you will see what I mean.
So if I understand you correctly, you do not believe anything Adam says because of his charges and everything Postmus says eventhough he is charged with far more serious crimes. Remember, you went on this blog and said you beleive Bill was not using meth anymore, and we all know how that turned out. It is understandable that you feel important by having a former Board of Supervisor and a former Chief of Staff talking to you, however they are only using you to further their cause. Unfortunately you have fallen for their plan.
That is not what I said. You seem to think that because someone is charged with a crime, they are guilty. Neither Bill nor Jim have been convicted of anything, including substance abuse. Did you notice Bill being charged for being under the influence? I didn’t. So don’t make assumptions.
Ramos would take a plea deal on Erwin and Postmus right now in a heartbeat but neither believe they are guilty.
Adam, on the other hand, plead guilty to six felonies, including giving false information to the Grand Jury. Does an “innocent” man plead guilty to six felonies? I don’t think so.
Have you had a chance to talk with Erwin, Postmus and Aleman to hear what they have to say? I have and Jim and Bill are far more credible than Adam. But again, we will all know when the cases work their way through the court system.
So let me get this right, you think Bill only carries meth and does not use. That is priceless. My eariler posts stands. You feel important talking to Bill and Jim. There has been no plea deal because Ramos won’t offer one. Look at Rex’s case no offers. If you believe Bill and Jim will walk, I have a bridge I would like to sell to you.
Josie never has or never will EVER have a brain
So Publius, you’ve been in every meeting between the defendants’ attorneys and the district attorney’s office? If so, that says a lot about your prejudices here. If not, then you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Could publius happen to be?????
I know far more about the case than you do. As far as prejudices go that’s the pot calling the kettle black, you are blinded by their celebrity status. By the way you did not answer my question about Bill carrying but nor using. Please enlighten me.
Good seeing you online tonight Bob. Hope your brainless boss is doing well.
Remember that Bob Page was placed in Josie’s office by Uffer. Yea, the Mark Uffer who turned on his five bosses for big Mikey the DA. Too bad NO one will ever wanna hire a rat like Mark Uffer again.
Mark Uffer will NO longer have a career anywhere in the private or public sector. Maybe Mikey the DA will give him a job for the next 10-months before he gets booted from office.
I really hope publius is not Bob Page??
Publius your arrogance is unfounded. Knowledge is key to forming opinions. Your lack of anything insightful displays your ignorance. Question for you. What will Josie say when she is asked why the Lewis family asked her to vote against the settlement?
My position on this matter comes from the fact that this administrator has lost all objectivity regarding this issue. Read all the posts. You will find she blindly will accept everything the “meth-head” Postmus says as gospel. I have been around substance abusers for over 30 years, I know their patterns of deceit and woe is me. This blog has been a pulpit for poor Mr. Postmus. Furthermore, Sharon has yet to answer my question on why she believes everything that Postmus says and nothing that Aleman says. Don’t get me wrong I think all involved in the Assessor’s office scandle are dirty. I just wonder why is one getting a pass. As far as your arrogance statement really? Just because I have an opposing view it is arrogant. How about the name of this post? Arrogant? You guys cannot handle any opposing view of your mob. I look forward to your response.
publius are you Bob Page?
ACU, why do you care who I am? Why don’t you folks deal with the issue at hand. That being the blog being a platform for a meth-head to spew his swill.
Bill is on the meth pipe therefore everything he says is a lie. Ramos sleeps around therefore everything he says is truthful. Aleman lied to the Grand Jury but he’s not lying to the DA. Addam also went running down the hallway with a hardrive in hand so therefore he loves to run. Erwin is friends with Burum therefore he bullied Postmus into voting for the Colonies settlement. Erwin also bullied Kirk into subliminally making Ovitt vote for the settlement as well. Only the PACs set up by this grup are dirty and attempting to influence political outcomes in the County. Pac donations by other PAC’s are fine and dandy. Sharon attempts to get at the truth and give those without a platform to speak therefore she believs everything Postmus says. Jerry Brown has the best interest of the State of California in his heart and that’s why he came to the IE for a press conference. LOL. A small lesson in circular reasoning. It doesn’t work.
Publius, I read the arrest warrant and the entire complaint as well because I am a freak that enjoys that type of thing. You are misrepresenting what they both said. Nothing contained in either was anything new. The”overt” acts that actually occurred have been public record and spoken about on this blog for a long time. Where have you been? Maybe Ramos has more that he plans to present at trial but he’s got nothing in that complaint. Based on that I will reserve judgement on exactly who did what to whom and when. That complaint was about as much as a stretch that I have ever read in a legal filing. The Sun Newspaper could have filed the same complaint with just articles that have been published. Oh but wait, they are a news agency and not the District Attorney. If you believe everything in that complaint than you might want to ask Mr. Ramos what took him so long? He still doesn’t even have enough of a case to charge the 5 co conspirators. What a joke.
Bottom line? This County stinks of corruption from the District Attorney himself to the BOS, 5th floor staffers, Tax collectors, Assessors, clerks running entrie departments and everywhere in between.
Sharon has been a fantastic force behind exposing and eliminating corruption. Why the personal attacks?
My belief is as I stated the entire County stinks and house needs to be cleaned big time. I believe that Jim and Postmus are absolutely guilty of playing the good ol boy game during all of their involvement with the County. Once they were arrested originally rather than turn into canaries and make secret back room deals with prosecutors they have attempted to expose the other injustices that go on all over this County. Does it take the spotlight of themselves? Perhaps. Is it helpful to see how dysfunctional and disgusting County government truly is? Yes. Does the two of them discussing corruption in county government make them innocent or take away any unethical dishonest and perhaps illegal activities that they participated in? Absolutley not.
Get off Sharon’s back she’s done more for this County and its employees by simply having this platform available. You Publius, seem to only be capable of personal attacks.
Bravo Mr. Spicoli, Mr. Hand would be proud of you. There are no attacks just the facts. Again do you think the name of this post isn’t an attack on Josie. Selective enforement game going on. By the way Happy Valentine’s Day.
Who is Bob Page? and Spicoli – thanks for the reminder that not EVERYONE is wiling to believe the circular logic of our DA. I wonder who in his office is keeping score on everything at this point because I doubt he even remembers what is truth and what he concoted for his press appearence.
Publius when you regularly attack opinions of others with your only insight being that of their flawed thoughts, and you do it while talking down to them, that is unfounded arrogance. You are debating with the administrator of the site on who is more reliable Bill Postmus or Adam Aleman, really? You do not seem to see what’s wrong with defending Aleman, and you do it as if your head is looking down upon her, a bit ironic don’t you think? Why are you so vested in his fiction? It has been my experience that you never can explain your positions but you do fully entrench yourself in them. You did not answer my first question, probably because you have not been given the answer yet.
Publius,
Of course the administrator can be wrong and she has been quite upfront
about being a conduit to Erwin and Postmus in getting out their testimony.
We all have to constantly examine the accuracy of our perceptions.
But I choke at your claim that the escense of the administrator’s work is
motivated by people of formerly high position making her feel important.
Isn’t that attitude the root cause of all this mess anyway. Those (or
should I say those of you) who reach “high” positions get dizzy from the
thin air. They forget the job that they were hired to do for the common
people, begin to see them with contempt, begin to gravitate toward the
big money and big power that is trying to influence them, and finally
fall corrupt to that influence. They compromise their positions, forget
to focus all of their personal times on their own families. The ultimate
test of corruption is when they see common people with normal interests
interfacing with government in a normal fashion as star-struck and seeking
their attention just to feel important.
The funny thing is that this even happens in San Bernardino, the lowest of
LA’s five counties.
Be careful all of you “important” people. There are millions of us who are
simply satisfied with our own small jobs and our own small families and
know how to use the institutions that you think you can control to your
corrupt will.
The reason Chairman Ovitt isn’t showing any leadership ability is because he has none. He is too scared right now. Ovitt has been implicated in The Colonies corruption crime. His involvement with Colonies Partner Dan Richards goes back to his days as Ontario mayor. At that time, Ovitt voted to spend $8.5 million of city redevelopment money to acquire land and demolish buildings, etc. which he then voted to sell to Dan Richards for under $46,000. Under his direction the city also agreed to forgive $500,000 in development impact fees. Ovitt later received $80,000 from Dan Richards et al to run for his supervisor’s seat. Ovitt is corrupt as the day is long. Ovitt can’t do anything until Devereaux gets there and tells him what to do. Problem is Devereaux has a conflict too. He is close personal friends with Richards as evidenced by the Ontario real estate deal and his recent private jet trip to visit Dan’s hometown & family in West Virginia
Josie never has had a brain. I’ve known here for years and she’s as dumb as a rock.
Doug, I don’t attack, O call out. My point is neither Adam or Bill are reliable. However the administrator believes everything Bill says, why? Bill’s reputation for telling the truth is no better than Adam’s.
Steve, Facts are facts, until Postmus and Erwin were in this mess they would laugh at this blog. Sorry that is the facts. Erwin and Postmus will say anything to save their skins. Take a look at their pasts. Men of denial.As this cases progesses that will become apparent. Furthermore there are plenty of honest people working in high places of government. Your not aware of this because it not NEWS worhty remember the saying “If it bleeds it leads.” Until next time.
Right back at ya PUB. Mr. Hand was awesome, who wouldn’t want to make him proud?
Jeff, thanks for the props. Later
Here folks let me put in terms robert/plublis/troll can understand…’fuck off bob’! Jeff spicoli your post brillant!….bloggers let me say this, we all understand by this time, roberts in his own world,and from time to time he makes a good point or provides some insight…but to take his bait is why he’s here.I like popping him in the eye when he gets way out there.
A simple yes or no publius to my question would be appreciated.
I don’t believe anything Postmus or Aleman says. So I don’t need to deal with any issue involving them. Postmus second arrest involving meth, says it all. And your right in believing anyone who uses meth.
Aleman is a self convicted liar. Using one to file indictments left and right is also dangerous.
Well said Jeff and Steve, Douglass. Bravo!!!!!!!!!
Publius
Let’s get back to your original question. Bill told me that Brad had no involvement in the Colonies settlement. Since you feel that is a lie, show me one shred of evidence he did. Not even the District Attorney’s office is accusing him of being a part of it. So let’s have some facts.
As to Adam, I can only base my opinion on the lies he told me–lies I could verify. I have spoken with him either two or three times. The last time I spent almost two hours on the phone with him. I questioned him about claims made in the arrest warrant affidavits, the search warrant affidavits and Jim’s police report. He told me flat out he was intimidated into saying some of the things the district attorney’s office claims he said; he said he told them much of what he told them was rumor; he said they played “good cop, bad cop” with him, etc. This is straight from his mouth. So, take your choice. Either the District Attorney’s investigators are lying or Adam is lying.
And finally, although Adam has provided District Attorney’s investigators with “evidence,” where is it alleged that Adam, himself, was involved in the Colonies settlement. Even the District Attorney’s office is not alleging that. So where do you get your information that everyone else is wrong and you’re the only one who truly knows who was and wasn’t involved in the settlement?
As to Bill’s meth addiction, I can’t say any more than I have. The case will work its way through the court system and we will all know the answer then.
truthseeker, did I hit a nerve? Now that sounds like an attack. There is nothing in my posts that warrant such language. As far as the eye popping comment what a joke.
ACU, it is not important who I am that will be revealed in due time. It appears you and I agree alot on this subject.
Administrator, again with the attacks. How about posting something positive foe a change. It could change your life.
I’m doubtful that Publius is Bob Page…the posts are uncharacteristic for the way Bob speaks/writes.
It is true that Uffer encouraged JG to hire Bob Page, but I can say that when I knew Bob he was relatively honest & had integrity (more than most up on the 5th floor). I believe Bob is a decent person, although he is flawed & doesn’t always make wise decisions (like any other human being). I think he is the solid foundation for the 5th District. Without Bob Page’s assistance JG would look even more lame & ridiculous. Can you imagine that? Of the people I know on her staff, they’re good people & they are truly the backbone of that office. JG is a rambling fool & the staff is constantly trying to round her up & put somewhat intelligent words into her blabbering mouth.
puby/robert…you troll in these blogs often, sometimes making a comment of note.but you really like to come in and shoot a dig mostly at ACU and Sharon…not to make a point..but to flame the issue…to ingauge fellow bloggers in pointless minutiae to the topic on hand…you come in under a few handles and change them up from time to time… but your easy to spot after a post or two… and as far as my language…it seemed an apropriate to the condesending tone you direct to others on the blogs. you want to act like an ass, don’t act surprised or shocked when you get called out for being one…Oui
truthseeker, again not digging at any fellow blogger, rather exposing their narrow mindedness. Have your opinions all you want, when I disagree you will hear from me. As far a name calling, your better than that. Maybe not.
robert…that was not name calling! it was a simple request.
Publius, now who’s not answering a direct question?
Publius again your comments are a bit ironic for me. A blog administrator can not rely on Bill Postmus because he is a drug user but a District Attorney can rely on an admitted perjurer for the case of the century, wow. Again, you seem to have a vested interest in the DA, and his not ready for prime time vaudeville actor.
Doug, let’s get real, the administrator and ACU are the “who’s who” of disgruntled county employees. It is ok for them to speak their views no matter how unfounded they are, however when I provide a contrary view, the blog mob comes gunning for me. That’s fine with me, but I call it as I see it. I have no dog in this fight. All my comments do is show an opposing view of this blog. It is healthy in a free society to have public debate. When you compare all of my comments against the Administrator’s and ACU and all you will discover is my view is different. I believe Adam, Bill and Jim are all liars. If this blog was truly concerned with coruption, the administrator should not provide a platform for any of them, but if she did that this blog would no longer exist thus leaving us only inlandpolictics.com A.K,A, the Jim Erwin show.
This post looks like good fun. I have a theory to toss out. Postmus was the Chair of the Board of Supervisors and he gives up that powerful position to take a ministerial one of little power. He creates a political machine to protect his office and he then disappears into methoblivian. What if in his meth fogged brain he thought that he could hade in the Assessors position , do his drugs and live happily ever after. You know that kind of logic is exactly how meth users think. From all reports Postmus was rarely at work and when he was at work he was clearly not functioning. The investigation of the Assessors Office didn’t find any abuses in the assessment function led by Erwin but it did find abuses in the political operation lead by Aleman. Aleman tries to cover it up and commits perjury in front of the Grand Jury and tries to alter and destroy evidence. So was Aleman the ral one responsible for the scandal in the Assessors Office. Postmus should be held ultimately responsible since he was the department head but what if Aleman was the real evil doer. Who should really be blamed, the brain behind the corruption (Aleman) or the drug addict Postmus. I think a jury is going to have a hard time with Aleman as the only real witness in these cases. Your thoughts everyone. .
More than once I questioned why Postmus would give us his position on the BOS. Now that I know about his drug use, I have to agree with DA Insider. Postmus was so far into his drugs that he was willing to sacrifice everything in order to have a paycheck and all he had to do was sit around stoned. Nice work if you can get it.
The Postmus brand has ruin several lives. His being at the top. He fell faster than his rise. Very sad.
I seem to remember another member of the Supervisor club did the same thing, As I recall his name was Larry Walker.
Great salaries in both the Assessor and Auditor Controller offices. Lower profile than the BOS. Easier to get re-elected (unless you pull a Postmus).
Publius, you have hit a nerve with me. Any time anyone classifies another as a disgruntled employee, I want to know why they are disgruntled and the last time that they were gruntled.
You are so wrong that if the Administrator were concerned about corruption, that she should not provide a platform for Adam, Bill, and Jim. Whether or not the individuals involved are lying or telling the truth, they are giving out information publicly on this site. In fact, i believe that it was law professor Laurie Levenson who told the Press Enterprise that if she were the prosecutor, she would be thriled that Jim Erwin was pouring his soul out on iepolictics.com/
I am tangentally involved in San Bernardino County life to the extreme. I am following according to my sideline as a writer interested in the thought processes that lead to political corruption. I feel that I am both witnessing and involved with history here.
On this website, prosecutors, targets, all elected officials, common county employees, common citizens, the overseeing Attorney General’s office, the overseeing FBI Public Integrity unit, the mainstream press, and even armchair observers like me all are sharing information. We are collectively effecting policy and prosecution in a way that was not possible before; in a way that was not possible when opposing lawyers controlled the process closely intheir strange mutually understood dance.
Steve Brow: So long as it’s not affecting policy and prosecution like the good old days mixed in with the new, aka, “Web-Mob Rules”
Steve, this blog is doing nothing to effect policy. You are just kidding yourself. Go outside of these two blogs and see what the public thinks. They agree with me. You guys take yourself too serious. At the end of the day, or should I say trials, the truth will come out and justice will prevail. By the way Ms. Levenson’s comment was not a positive one for Postmus and Erwin.
and no, I’m not Robert or publis – dont know who anyone else really is on this thing, but I know I’m not them
The problem with your logic, Publius, is that you are posting on this blog. To say that this blog has no importance is to say that you place no value in your own opinion nor your own time.
Steve, again too serious. You need to chill.
Well it is serious, Pulius. We are talking about people falling from high office and going to prison. As decades ago, my friend’s father tumbled from arguably the most powerful Orange County Supervisor in history to being a prison inmate.
The real question is, when should we take issues seriously enough–when should we and when can we speak so that these crimes never happen in the first place?
Doris: I’ve read reference to Ovitt’s and Dan Richards potential conflicts in the past. Will you kindly tell us more about the project you refer to ie dates, times, project names, the vote breakdown by Ontario? council members etc. Reference to existing printed material ie newspaper articles, critical council meeting dates and minutes etc. would be helpful. There is far more not being mentioned in blogs that may get buried during the current excitement. How about topics such as lack of BOS transparency, suppression of the central committee audit on Postmus, Mitzelfelt’s and Postmus’ Lodgemakers project in Hesperia, scurrilous behavior by the registrar of voters during the 2008 election(assisted by Mitzelfelt), Mitzelfelt’s disappearing act each time a significantly potentially negative situation arises and his insistence that during six years as Postmus’ chief that he never saw P do anything wrong(we saw P run out of a public meeting one night in Phelan just when we were asking him questions(he never returned), questions about Judges Norell and Fawke during stages of Colonies proceedings, Kirk’s insistence that the CC was above board and honest and his belief that spending almost $200,000(some of it Colonies money) to buy a seat on the Hesperia city council in 2008, was not only ethical but is protected by free speech(Kirk lost the election to a candidate who spent approx. $8,000., shows that money can’t buy everything, Mitzelfelt accepting an endorsement during the 2008 election from a former law enforcement officer who was fired for raping an underage female-all of the while Mitzelfelt telling the public he was a strong supporter of Megans(sp?) Law and traditional family values(we believe that Mitzelfelt received a $50,000 campaign contribution from the officers union.) Thank you Doris.
According to Mitzelfelt, the destruction of documents is not illegal but immoral. Is it legal to conceal and/or destroy documents that prove you are the rightful homeowner?
Mitzelfelt, ask the Assessor or Ramos’ PIU for a copy of the note (arrangement) from the San Bernardino Superior Court.