Category Archives: Ruth Stringer

iePolitics: So is it Ruthie, the figure skater, or?

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We have suggested on this blog many times in the past that the crack(ed) legal Beagles of the Fourth Floor of the San Bernardino County Government Center have a shelf somewhere in their fancy offices that contains a copy of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all subsequent civil rights law, such as the ADA, with an inch of dust on it.  I think we are still awaiting for one of them to pick it up and actually read it, especially the part about discriminating based on disabilities.

We know they are too busy as evidenced by the 30 or so firms they contract their work out of because they are so overworked up there.  Or are they?

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iePolitics: A few more things about the Colonies scandal – update

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I added the op-ed piece below by Paul Mahoney because it points out several things the newspapers seem to be overlooking on purpose.  It, along with several other recent articles, reminded me of some things I had totally forgotten about.

I have defended Judge Christopher Warner many times on this blog.  As I have written before, I was his first secretary when he was appointed to the bench.  Although it is certainly possible to be corrupted in a system that is so inherently corrupt, I find that hard to believe in this instance.  I guess that is why I found the Sun stories attacking Judge Warner and Justice Panelli so offensive.  I simply do not believe that either of them did what the District Attorney’s office, Attorney General, and Dennis Wagner are accusing them of doing.

That brings me to Dennis Wagner.  And I shall preface the rest of this post by saying that what I am about to describe is based on conversations with Jim Erwin and Mark Kirk at the time.  Both have lied to me in the past and may have been lying during this episode but this is what they led me to believe.

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PE: Hit theft hard

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10:00 PM PDT on Monday, March 14, 2011
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County should prosecute misconduct in the Sheriff’s Department as sternly as corruption in the assessor’s office or other arms of county government. A county with a history of high-level official scandal cannot afford to treat alleged theft from taxpayers as a minor bending of the rules.

A special county grand jury last week indicted seven current and former sheriff’s employees on felony charges of perjury, grand theft and conspiracy. The seven are accused of falsifying records, starting in 2006, to get credit for training they had not received, in order to gain higher pay and retirement benefits. Prosecutors did not know exactly how much public money was involved, but said those indicted had boosted their compensation by amounts ranging from $2,000 to $100,000 apiece.

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iePolitics: Sheriff’s Deputy Chiefs

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I’m hoping someone can clarify this for me.  I’m told the Sheriff’s Department gives its deputy chiefs a $1200 a month car allowance to buy their own vehicles.  However, the county pays for all gas, tires, insurance and upkeep on these vehicles, including gas for their families’ use, vacations, etc.  Can someone a) confirm this and b) explain why this isn’t double dipping?

iePolitics: Civil suit depo list

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iePolitics just received the list for the first round of county officials to be depo’d in the Postmus civil case.  The list is being sent to County Counsel this week.

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Former lead counsel really retired? Well..not yet

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011 – 08:00 a.m.

www.inlandpolitics.com

Talking about someone hanging on.

A review of San Bernardino County retirement rolls for December and January seem to be missing a name.

Ruth Stringer, the now former county counsel, is missing from the list.

Meaning Stringer is still on active payroll.

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iePolitics: How the Ristow case will resolve

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We are going to start our New Year’s predictions early because we are hearing a bit of chatter.  And the chatter is that Mike Ramos is on the offensive.

The key to the Ristow case is the up-to-now confidential affidavits signed by five women who were involved with Ramos.  Making those affidavits public will take Ramos down and he knows it.

So far none of the predictions about his demise have come true.  The BOS has only seen a report that basically puts all the blame on Ristow.  Mark Kirk , Andrew Lamberto, and Ruth Stringer made sure the truth did not come out.

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iePolitics: Ten months of obstruction

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Today’s departure of San Bernardino County Public Defender Doreen Boxer ends ten months of obstruction and interference by County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.  Devereaux was made very aware of the issues with both County Counsel Ruth Stringer and Boxer just after he was hired.  Both individuals were at-will employees who could have easily been terminated for their malfeasance in office.  Both received Devereaux’s protection despite BOS disapproval.

The recent power grab by Devereaux is expected to make it even more difficult for the Board of Supervisors to eliminate department heads who violate county policy and/or state law, harm constituents, or underperform.  Supervisors will have to have a super majority in order to deal with such situations and that is not likely.

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InlandPolitics: Outgoing S.B. County lawyer throws bash, feelings evident

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www.inlandpolitics.com

Sunday, December 5, 2010 – 09:15 a.m.

The actions of San Bernardino County’s outgoing county counsel, who’s last official day was this past Friday, seems to be conveying feelings about her departure that are somewhat different than her public statements.

It seems Ruth Stringer threw a little bash at the Time in a Bottle wine bar in Redlands last Thursday night.

A “by invitation only” drink-fest, where the food and drink was really flowing, late into the evening. All on Stringer’s dime.

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iePolitics: Exclusive: The Eyler/Postmus witness list – Updated #3

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Editor’s Note:  For a blog that “no one reads,” stories that are printed on it sure do have the tendency to create havoc.  We knew there would be several additional names to this list, but then presents drop from the sky.  And those presents were read by the defense.


iePolitics has obtained a partial list of witnesses expected to be called as a part of the upcoming corruption trial in People v. Postmus, et al.  Attorneys for the defendants have given the judge an expected length of seven to eight weeks for the trial.  Here are the names we have been given so far:

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iePolitics: Exclusive: The Eyler/Postmus witness list – Updated

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Editor’s Note:  For a blog that “no one reads,” stories that are printed on it sure do have the tendency to create havoc.  We knew there would be several additional names to this list, but then presents drop from the sky.  And those presents were read by the defense.


iePolitics has obtained a partial list of witnesses expected to be called as a part of the upcoming corruption trial in People v. Postmus, et al.  Attorneys for the defendants have given the judge an expected length of seven to eight weeks for the trial.  Here are the names we have been given so far:

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Stringer likely to receive highest county pension

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www.inlandpolitics.com

Monday, November 15, 2010 – 11:25 p.m.

Tuesday the San Bernadino County Board of Supervisors will honor outgoing county counsel Ruth Stringer with a resolution commending her for 32 years of service to the county.

Even though the board really showed Stringer to the door.

Stringer’s motivation for not wanting to leave now has all to do with one thing. Her pension.

A pension which has become crystal clear over the past few months.

If Stringer could have served four more years, her retirement percentage would have climbed from an estimated 83.80% t0 100.00% of her pensionable (earnable) compensation.

Nevertheless, Stringer more than likely walks away assuming the most prestigious honor as San Bernardino County’s highest paid retiree.

Yes, it’s true.

Stringer’s updated retirement calculation is as follows:

Base Annual Salary                                                      $ 230,110.40
Benefit Plan                                                            $   6,000.00
Supplemental Retirement Allowance                                       $  11,391.90
Automobile Allowance                                                    $  14,400.00
Vacation Leave Cash-out (Eligible for pension calculation)              $  17,700.80
Administrative Leave (Eligible for pension calculation)                 $   8,850.40
Holiday Leave (Eligible for pension calculation)                        $  11,391.90
                                                                       --------------
Earnable Compensation                                                   $ 303,244.06
                                                                       --------------
7% County-paid Retirement Contribution received as cash back            $  21,227.08
                                                                         --------------
Total Earnable Compensation for retirement purposes                     $ 324,451.14

Estimated retirement percentage based on age 60 w/ 32 years of service        83.80%

Estimated Annual Pension                                                $ 271,890.05

Talk about a windfall.

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iePolitics: More on ARMC

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Reading the spin from county personnel on the issues at San Bernardino County-run Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has been interesting.  Or perhaps disgusting is a better word.

Some of you may remember the Fair Political Practices Commission complaint I filed back in March against Mark Uffer and Supervisors Paul Biane and Josie Gonzales.  I received notice from the FPPC that there was no violation despite the fact that all three of them along with countless others had been given free medical care at ARMC and did not report this gift of public funds on their FPPC Form 700s.

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Editorial: BOS Should Postpone CAO/CEO Board Item to Allow Imput from Rutherford

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Supervisor-elect Janice Rutherford

www.grapevine.com

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is playing fast and loose with the rules once again.  And this time around it seems they may very well be in such a hurry so to prevent newcomer Supervisor-elect Janice Rutherford, who ran on a platform of ethics reform, from providing her input into a law that will affect her ability to serve her constituents  for her entire term of office and keeping her promises to voters.

Four out of the five current supervisors supported Rutherford’s opponent and now they are pushing through a new county ordinance to transfer authority from the Board of Supervisors to their hand-selected County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.  Devereaux appears to have little concern for ethics reform as evidenced by his handling of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center scandal, which was highlighted this past week with his misstatements to the press and his covering for supervisors who are accused of wrongdoing.  Inside sources say that those supervisors were targeted in the search warrants and criminal charges against them are possible.

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InlandPolitics: The Insider: County judge shopping on Ramos case

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www.inlandpolitics.com

Sunday, November 7, 2010 – 1:45 p.m.

San Bernardino County appears to be judge shopping in a lawsuit filed against it and District Attorney Mike Ramos by former employee Cheryl Ristow.

Ristow has sued the county and Ramos, claiming she was retaliated against by Ramos for refusing to keep secret and affair between her and the two-term DA, when knowledge of their relationship went public in May 2009.

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iePolitics: A thanks to Supervisor Neil Derry

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Third District Supervisor Neil Derry

We here at iePolitics have been pretty hard on Supervisor Derry for a while now but we also recognize that he is the only supervisor to have any sense of ethics.  Neil deserves a big “thank you” for making the Ruth Stringer termination finally happen.  No, he couldn’t do it alone, but none of the other supervisors had backbone enough to make it happen.

The average citizen has no clue how significant getting Ruthie out as top legal Beagle really is.  This woman caused more unnecessary grief for more people, but, more importantly, she cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars with her second-rate legal advice that was usually based on politics and vengeance rather than sound legal principles.

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iePolitcs: A perfect example of Ruthie’s malfeasance

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Here is another perplexing board item on Tuesday’s San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Agenda:

County Counsel
19) Approve Agreement with Gresham, Savage, Nolan & Tilden to provide representation and related legal services in connection with the litigation entitled Cheryl Ristow v. County of San Bernardino, et al., Case No. CIVDS 1010909 (Four votes required).

(Affected Districts: All)
(Presenter: Ruth E. Stringer, County Counsel, 387-5451)

Remember, District Attorney Mike Ramos, during the City-County Conference and in front of dozens of county and city officials, asked if he could “eat Ruth’s pussy.”  Well it looks like Ruthie wants to return the favor, figuratively speaking, that is.

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iePolitics: Has Ruthie been fired?

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There are two perplexing matters before the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, the first on Tuesday and the second on Wednesday, that have us wondering if crack(ed) legal Beagle Ruthie Stringer has been given the axe . . . finally.  Our very bestest and mostest dependable sources are being quite obstructive and obstinate about giving iePolitics the scoop on this one.

And that’s not fair.  This is like being four years old again on Christmas Eve and unable to sleep in anticipation of the big day.  Except in this case, we have to wait  three and a half days to find out what is going on.  Where are our sleeping pills when we need them?

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iePolitics: Guess what Ruthie has done now to embarrass the BOS

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Back in early June, iePolitics was tipped off that Dr. Dev Gnanadev, medical director for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), had real property in San Bernardino County and the beach area that he was not reporting on his FPPC Form 700.  We were also advised that he employed his wife in his medical billing business and required some of the doctors that contract with ARMC to use his medical billing service.  His wife’s income was also not reported on his FPPC Form 700.

We obtained copies of his last four 700s and determined there were discrepancies.  We also had the Assessor’s Office check his name for real property and found several possible properties he did not claim in this county.  Because the information he put on his Form 700 was done very sloppily, it was hard to tell exactly how much he under-reported but it was clear he had not reported everything he was required to report.

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SbGrapevine: Editorial: When will the BOS learn its lesson? – Part 1

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www.sbgrapevine.com

Emasculated.  Impotent.  Ineffectual.  Powerless.  Debilitated.  Cowardly.  Weak.

Anyone of these adjectives is an appropriate descriptor of the current five members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors individually and as a not-so-well functioning governing board.  Never was it so obvious as it was on Tuesday.

More than a year and a half ago many astute observers began to realize the Board of Supervisors had a problem.  Several high-ranking staffers, including County Counsel Ruth Stringer, had become disloyal.  In reality, the situation worsened to far beyond disloyal.

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Stringer gives supervisors the finger

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010 – 11:00 a.m.
Last Updated: September 28, 2010 – 12:50 p.m.

www.inlandpolitics.com

Today, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors received a message from their chief legal counsel.

The finger.

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iePolitics: Time for change at County Counsel

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I have never been in favor of contracting out services in lieu of hiring county employees until now.  But County Counsel is out of control.

Already, County Counsel contracts almost all trial work as they do not have a single experienced trial attorney on staff.  They also contract out all complicated cases as they do not have a single experienced litigator on staff either.  And that is saying a lot as I believe they have around 50 attorneys in their office.

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iePolitics: The Hueston debacle

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San Bernardino County’s million dollar attorney may very well cost the county even more.  Tomorrow, as part of closed session, the lawsuit against the Assessor’s folks is on the agenda.  Closed session is a very good place for it.

Of course we do not know the county’s reason for putting the case on the agenda.  We do know what happened last week with the case and wonder if Legal Beagles Ruthie Stringer and John Hueston have fessed up to the board about how they screwed up. You mean the Million Dollar Man screwed up?  He most certainly did Ollie.

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iePolitics: Did Matt Brown receive a bribe today to keep quiet before the election?

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I know that I am not the only one that thinks the county of San Bernardino sunk to a new low today.  The decision to pay off former Second District Chief of Staff Matt Brown is a slap in the face to all county employees who must face a real hostile work environment each and every day because they do not have the money for an attorney and the county refuses to conduct a legitimate investigation.  County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux and our Board of Supervisors should be ashamed of themselves.

Of course, this payoff begs the question of Why?  Well, the answer is easy. A mistake by the District Attorney’s office has alerted corruption defendants to the fact that Brown was involved in attempting to get his boss, Second District Supervisor Paul Biane, on tape in an undercover operation.  It would be highly detrimental to Supervisor Paul Biane’s re-election chances to have his former Chief of Staff tell what he knows before November 2.

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iePolitics: Ruthie got to be in court this morning

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San Bernardino County’s County Counsel and chief legal beagle of many years got to make a court appearance this morning.  Finally.  I’m paraphrasing here a bit, but I believe her involvement this morning was limited to, “Ruth Stringer on behalf of San Bernardino County, your Honor.”  Wow, she should be proud.  She’s moving up to the level of big-time attorneys.  Way to go Ruthie!

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iePolitics: Raspberries to Mitzelfelt

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This was going to be a much meaner post—I mean comparing anyone to Josie is pretty mean, isn’t it?  But, then I remembered one of Brad’s field representatives, Jessie Flores, did a big favor for me week before last, and I decided I should be a little nicer.  So, here goes the “nice” version of this post.

Brad, what the heck were you thinking?  We expect these kind of stupid decisions out of Josie because she is stupid ,and out of Paul because he is usually drunk, but we expect a tempered, well-reasoned decision out of you.  Today we did not get it.

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iePolitics: The Ristow Lawsuit

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I wasn’t going to blog about this because there really is no point right now in arguing the merits of the case.  Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time know where I stand on the issue.  No one is going to believe the outcome I predicted months ago until depositions start being taken and evidence that hasn’t been made available yet becomes public.  Some of you are on Cheryl’s side and some of you are on Mike’s side and I’m not going to change anyone’s opinion.

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iePolitics: BOS: You haven’t had enough yet?

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To the Honorable Members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors,

Haven’t you had enough yet?  Honestly, why wasn’t County Counsel Ruth Stringer fired today?  She does not work for County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.  She works for you.  And she should have been fired TODAY!

I only wish I could share with the readers of iePolitics the details of her latest fiasco—a fiasco that has already been expensive and one that almost cost you, the taxpayers, an additional very large sum of money.

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iePolitics: County’s top lawyers all on thin ice

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San Bernardino County’s three top lawyers may be “former” employees by year’s end.  San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos, Public Defender Doreen Boxer, and County Counsel Ruth Stringer all are in precarious positions at best.

Although mainstream media has refused to cover the antics of District Attorney Mike Ramos, iePolitics and InlandPolitics have covered them extensively.  We have been accused of libeling poor Mikey.  But the seeds he has sown are about to come back to haunt him and prove that we are the ones with truth on our side.

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iePolitics: So who is fornicating now?

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San Bernardino County’s law firm, Boxer, Ramos & Stringer (remember Mikey likes to be in the middle), is at it again.  We learned of their speciality months ago when chief legal Beagle Ruth Stringer determined that fornication is part of the “deliberative process” and taxpayer monies spent for said fornication is not the business of the taxpayers.  We are supposed to take it in the shorts, literally.

Well our favorite ménage à trois has defied logic and sound legal reasoning yet once more.  Until recently the county reluctantly released information regarding the costs of civil litigation against former Assessor Bill Postmus, et al.  The investigation was originally capped at $250,000 but former Enron prosecutor and special investigator John Hueston went through that amount quickly.

From all appearances, the cost of the investigation/persecution has already exceeded $1 million or is quickly approaching that mark with nothing to show for it and likely no hope of ever showing anything for it except for a conviction and judgment against Adam Aleman.  Aleman is the only one to plead guilty and not file an answer.

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iePolitics: The Public Defender Lawsuit

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This story will be revised tomorrow.  Here are a few of the documents that were sent to me:  scan0002 I will try to scan it again tomorrow to see if I can get it to scan all in the same direction.  For now you’ll have to print it out.

Would someone from the Public Defender’s office please send me a rundown of what happened to cause Doreen Boxer and Ruth Stringer to sue the Public Attorneys’ Association and explain how it got to the point of the Public Attorneys’ Association now asking Judge Christopher Warner for approximately $80,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs?

iePolitics: Corruption on the Fifth Floor and Elsewhere – Everyone Wants to Blame the Rich Guy

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It doesn’t seem to matter if we are discussing Jeff Burum, the Lewis Family, or any other of a number of successful, wealthy businessmen in our community, they are all “corrupt.”  I don’t mean that they are really, truly corrupt, but they are “corrupt” in the minds of the less successful.  The common thought seems to be that if one has money, then one has no integrity.  Our community doesn’t allow for making an “honest” hundred million or so.  Hard work, sacrifice, intellect, college education, and just plain good old-fashioned luck can all be damned.  If one is successful, then one must be a crook.

I’m sure there is a term for this mentality, and with our current corruption scandal, that mentality has become very frustrating.  Otherwise intelligent people seem to be more interested in finding blame than finding truth.  The fact that so many have bought into Batman and Robin’s conspiracy theory is proof that logic and critical thinking have given way to hysteria and enjoyment in the fact that someone with power may be taken out, not for wrongdoing, but because they have power and wealth.  I suppose the weak hope to bask in the demise of the powerful.

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iePolitics: Attention Public Defender Readers

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I received the package today and I am going to scan in and post some of the pages.  I think it is important for the public and/or county employees to see a perfect example of why Ruth Stringer should have been fired long ago for incompetence and using her office for political witch hunts.  She has an obligation to the taxpayers even if means telling another attorney, i.e., Doreen and Lauri, “NO!”

It would help though if someone would email me a synopsis of the litigation so readers can understand all that transpired.

iePolitics: Where is the leadership in this county?

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I’m really trying to be patient.  Honestly I am.  I know former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer left behind a mess, proportions of which county brass is still trying to determine.

But . . . this county is in dire straits, ethically speaking that is.  I really want to believe what my friends who know current County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux say about him.  I really do.  I really, really do.  Because if it isn’t true, this county is going bankrupt. Continue reading →

iePolitics: More ARMC Cover Up

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Sometimes I really wonder who is the worst lawyer, District Attorney Mike Ramos or County Counsel Ruth Stringer.  From Ramos we have learned that the Constitution of the United States is not applicable in San Bernardino County, at least not in connection with political enemies.   And County Counsel Ruth Stringer has taught us that copulation involving public resources is covered by the “deliberative process” and therefore not subject to review, not that we wanted to review the copulation, only the expenditures attached thereto.

Now we find our two legal beagles are at it again.  Well, not with each other we hope, but in consort of sorts, with those at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) who wish to cover for the misdeeds of members of the Board of Supervisors, the county’s Medical Director Dr. Dev GnanaDev,  ARMC Chief Executive Officer Patrick Petre, and a handful of doctors and other ARMC employees. Continue reading →

iePolitics: To Add to Jim’s Comments

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I feel sometimes like we are beating a dead horse.  Unfortunately, that dead horse keeps coming back to life and rearing its ugly head.  There are several San Bernardino County department heads that have to go.  The county simply cannot afford to keep them on in these economic times.  Federal court and federal juries do not care how broke San Bernardino County may be when it awards judgments.  And Mr. Devereaux, you have some complete idiots (note HROs:  be sure to print this out to add it to “the list”) running the show who are going to ultimately cost taxpayers dearly.

At the top of the list is County Counsel Ruth Stringer.  How much longer are you going to tolerate her half-ass legal advice?  When you take an attitude of “we have 138 attorneys, so bring it on,” as did our former County Administrative Officer and our current County Counsel has, you’re assuming you can outlast us all.  Not all of us go away easily or cheaply. Continue reading →

iePolitics: The Postmus Resignation: Broken Promise or Outright Lie

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I really need to stop reading former San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer’s Claim Against the County.  Every time I do, I find something new.  Like tonight I came across the email from Postmus to Biane calling Biane a POS.  That was too funny.

Something else was pointed out to me today that got me reading the thing again.  That was some more of the questions Mark Uffer suggested the Grand Jury ask Mark Kirk. Continue reading →

iePolitics: The Mark Uffer Lawsuit, Part Two

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Now that I have had a chance to read/skim through all 160 pages, all I can say is Mark Uffer must be more of a desperate little man than I ever realized.  Mark, since I know you still read the blog, here a few thoughts for you to ponder:

  • Did you know that members of the Grand Jury are  big fans of the blog?  Yep.  It is mandatory reading every day.  I have heard that from more than one of them.
  • If anything ever comes of your silly lawsuit, I hope you understand that as pissed off as I am at Mark Kirk, I will NEVER lie on your behalf.  Kirk never did anything wrong in terms of this blog, divulging confidential information to me or anything else.  By the way, Kirk and I have never had lunch, ever, nor did he ever advertise on my blog.
  • You have a lot of nerve suggesting you are a whistle blower when it is the rest of us that have been blowing the whistle on YOUR illegal activities at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, etc.  I will bet anything that the current Federal investigation into Public Health comes back to you.
  • You are the one that did everything you could to keep the Board of Supervisors divided.  If I remember correctly, your favorite term was “subterfuge.”
  • As Greg Devereaux continues to undo the mess you made of things, just wait until the public and employees discover how screwed up you and Dean have left the county’s budget.  As we all knew, your “balanced budget” was nothing more than smoke and mirrors.
  • I suspect a few more of your “lunch bunch” will soon be added to the list of FORMER county employees.  I sure hope your attorney isn’t taking these cases on a contingency basis.  Pretty soon your legal beagle Ruthie will be gone and the county will have a real attorney to defend your lawsuit, if he or she can stop laughing.

Anyway, thanks for the good laugh today.  Yesterday it was funny but after reading your supporting documents, it really is downright hysterical.  You really have helped my blog hits once again, so thank you for that too.

iePolitics: A Thought Neil Derry

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A thought Mr. Derry for you and the rest of the Board of Supervisors.

With your stance on eithics and transperancy you and your fellow BOS members might wish to consider this.

There have been many stories here and in the papers in recent month about cost cutting measures budget shortfalls and on and on.

The CAO just announced that 500 managers would forgo pay raises etc. Continue reading →

iePolitics: Just When We Thought They Might Grow a Spine

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On Tuesday’s agenda is this:

County Counsel

20)

Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 09-0038 with Irell & Manella, LLP, to increase the funding to handle the civil litigation regarding former Assessor Bill Postmus and the improper expenditure of public funds while he was in office (Four votes required).

Talk about a group of individuals that just won’t learn.  You’re not going to win these cases so why keep feeding Ruth’s flame? If you dumped Ruth and Hueston, you might be able to hire a seasoned litigator who could mete sage legal advice instead of telling you what you want to hear. Continue reading →

iePolitics: Board Holidays and Meetings

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As previously reported, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is only meeting this year 27 out of 52 weeks, which proves we could do just fine with a part-time Board of Supervisors.  Besides for the usual 12 “dark” weeks due to regular holidays, the BOS has found an additional 13 holidays to celebrate to justify their additional “darkness.”

Next Tuesday is “Do a Grouch a Favor Day,” which is an appropriate reason to be dark.  Unfortunately, San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos has gotten in the way with his corruption scandal implicating two of five sitting board members.  Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales has called for an emergency closed session meeting on Tuesday in an email that read:

Due to the shocking new allegations of a far-reaching criminal conspiracy contained in the Postmus-Erwin complaint released today, I ask that an emergency closed session meeting of the Board of Supervisors be scheduled.  The members of the board must be apprised of our legal options and give direction expeditiously.

Ya know, next time Moonbeam is in town, Josie needs to join him and Ramos on the podium.  They would make a great three-some.

Of course, the Board of Supervisors didn’t listen to iePolitics and get rid of County Counsel Ruth Stringer when they had the chance.  Now they have to get their legal advice from her.  They might all just as well attend dressed in orange jumpsuits.

iePolitics: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

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With the pending arrival of newly hired San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux, we are pondering some points:

  • Will Assistant County Administrative Officer Dean Arabatzis now be required to work 40 hours a week at the County Government Center?  Five days a week, every week?
  • Will the Fifth Floor continue to be a ghost town on both sides of the isle on Fridays?
  • Will CAO Devereaux also work five days a week?
  • Will County Counsel Ruth Stringer and her deputy county counsels be allowed to continue to accrue millions in leave balances?
  • What will replace our beloved “Service First”?
  • Will Chicken Man show up to board meetings in a chicken suit?
  • Will Board of Supervisors staff follow Devereaux’s lead and start working five days a week, 40 hours a week?
  • Will department heads caught lying and cheating have consequences similar to line staff?
  • Will David Wert be required to work 40 hours a week, five days a week, every week?
  • Will department heads who go on vacation be required to green-slip their time?
  • Will non-elected department heads be allowed to continue bonking their line staff?
  • Will anything be done about sexual harassment and racial discrimination in the work place?
  • Will anything of significance ever get accomplished by the Fifth Floor in a timely manner?

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

Posted on by Administrator
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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 →

iePolitics: Who needs the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals when we’ve got Ruth Stringer?

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Maybe when San Bernardino County’s Chief Legal Eagle Ruth Stringer is booted in a few weeks, President Obama will appoint her to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  From our experience she would be a perfect fit with the aberrant justices already sitting on that bench.

Under Stringer’s matronly tutelage we have all been blessed to learn new legal concepts not taught in any law school but practiced with fervor here in San Bernardino County.  For example, “fornicating” is apparently synonymous with “deliberating” as in the “deliberative process.”  We are not sure what an elected official and his inamorata would deliberate about at  2 a.m. that the public isn’t entitled to know since the “deliberating” is taking place on our dime.  We also haven’t figured out why salmon and wine can be made public but the raw oysters and asparagus cannot.  Perhaps it is the “Stringer Rule of Libidinous Measure.”

Continue reading →

InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Ramos investigation doesn’t add up – Part 1

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  • Written by Senor Blogger
  • Posted January 28, 2010 at 11:45 am

The long-awaited investigation into sexual-related misconduct and work place activity of District Attorney Mike Ramos and his department management staff was released yesterday afternoon. The investigation was triggered by allegations made against Ramos and his managers by Cheryl Ristow, an employee in the District Attorney’s office.

True-to-form, San Bernardino County fails to disappoint by creating a bigger mess.

Local newspapers jumped on the “Ramos is cleared” band-wagon immediately. One even attacked the claimant Cheryl Ristow in the headline.

Ramos immediately claimed vindication on all fronts and denied everything once again.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: Is there really a “plan”?

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The story below from inlandpolitics.com is disturbing to say the least.  The problem is that it may only be the tip of the iceberg in terms of backroom deals and cover-ups that have occurred as part of the investigation into San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos and his sexual exploits.  We will probably know more next Tuesday after the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meet in closed session.

On Decemer 18, 2009, Mark Kirk and I met to try to resolve differences.  I asked him about the status of the Mike Ramos.  Mark’s only response was “I have a plan.”  Last Friday when I received the call about the memo where it appears the report was gutted and the investigation covered up, I kept asking, “Are you sure?  Mark said he had a plan.”  I sure as heck  hope what we see now is not the “plan.”

Continue reading →

InlandPolitics Commentary: Santa Monica law firm at center of Ramos report focus

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Was the true scope of the law firm hired by San Bernardino County Human Resources Director Andrew Lamberto to mount a politically explosive investigation really focused on just three questions?

Will county supervisors answer that question soon, or just try and delay until after the June election.

The Santa Monica office of law firm of Curiale Hirschfeld Kraemer, LLP was hired to investigate misconduct allegations leveled against District Attorney Michael Ramos and certain members of his management team by Investigative Technician Cheryl Ristow. Ristow says she a had a 17-month long affair with Ramos and that when the affair became public last may she was retaliated against after expressing concerns to management.

Continue reading →

iePolitics: More on the Ramos Report

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I had a chance to meet with Cheryl Ristow, the claimant in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s sex scandal, yesterday and she showed me her documentation.  One of things the newspapers seem to have forgotten is that the report does not clear District Attorney Michael Ramos of lying to the public nor does it suggest that he DID NOT have an affair with Cheryl or any number of other subordinate employees.  All it states is that the District Attorneys office did not create a hostile work environment for Cheryl.

Cheryl has the proof, which leads those of us close to the situation to believe that the more-serious hanky-panky is between San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Ovitt, along with his Chief of Staff, Mark Kirk, and the law firm investigating the accusations.  Helping along with the deceit is likely Human Resources Director Andrew Lamberto and County Counsel Ruth Stringer. Continue reading →