Category Archives: San Bernardino Public Employees Association

iePolitics: SBPEA members beware!

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I recently found out that San Bernardino Public Employee Association General Manager Bob Blough has volunteered to be called as a witness against me in my lawsuit against the county.  You may remember that when some of his employees notified me that he was co-mingling funds between the SBPEA non-profit mutual benefit corporation and the for-profit insurance corporation, I asked to see the books.  Even though I was a member in good standing, he refused to allow me to see the books and then created phony charges to have me kicked out of the union.

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IBEW: You’re invited

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Greetings all county employees, we have great news. The cause still exists and will not give up until we get better representation for county employees. That is our goal not only for current workers but for future workers that will be employed by the San Bernardino County. I am sorry for the delay in communicating, our members have been regrouping and reorganizing this cause to move forward and smart and to stand up for what we are working for. Don’t you agree?!

iePolitics: So when are SBPEA members going to show some cajones too?

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Does anyone really believe that SBPEA General Manager Bob Blough isn’t doing to SBPEA members behind the scenes exactly what Beef and now Laren were doing to SEBA members?  Yet SBPEA members do nothing but bend over and take it time and again.  I have long since given up on general county employees having an ounce of backbone.  I really believe they are getting exactly what they deserve.

CBS Sacramento: On The Money: Union Busines: Labor Unions Openly Quarrel Over Release Time

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Editor’s Note:  How much does it cost taxpayers in San Bernardino for “union release time”?

June 14, 2011 10:36 PM

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Taxpayers are shelling out close to one million dollars each year for Sacramento police and fire officials to conduct union business. It’s called “union release time” – and the biggest critics are other unions.

One of those critics is Matthew Hermann, a park maintenance engineer who fixes fountains and other equipment for the city of Sacramento. But he’s found what he believes is a leak of taxpayer dollars at city hall.

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iePolitics: Stand up at TAD

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This is another “confirm, deny or verify” please.  I’m told TAD employees were told today that there will be a 10 percent reduction in work hours for general employees but it will not apply to TAD employees or others whose jobs are federally funded. Also, I’m told Bob Blough says it is going to arbitration and to look on the SBPEA website, but like my informant, I can’t find anything on the website.

iePolitics: Conspiracy Theory No. 3

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As much as I have no use for the guy, I do believe CAO Greg Devereaux is brilliant, at least in comparison to those BOS members and employees he is manipulating.  One thing even his friends will say about him is that he likes to be conceived as an asshole.  He does not mind the heat from making employees’ lives miserable.

And as much as I dislike Bob Blough, he is a used car salesman extraordinaire that always comes out on the winning side in terms of what is best for himself.  He also doesn’t mind the heat from making employees’ lives miserable.

Now, think of the chain of events.  Last year Devereaux and Blough imposed a series of takeaways on General employees.  It was done with SBPEA’s help even though it violated collective bargaining laws.  They both knew employees would never mount a serious effort to fight it.

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SBSun: Two San Bernardino County labor unions nix concessions

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Posted: 05/31/2011 06:38:59 PM PDT

 

Two key San Bernardino County employee unions won’t accept a package of concessions that county leaders have asked all employees to take, union leaders said Tuesday.That could spell doom for county chief executive Greg Devereaux’s plan to cut the county budget in large part with employee concessions, forcing the county to cut programs and services, said county spokesman David Wert.

“The budget is going to be balanced either way,” Wert said. “We know what we’re going to do. It’s just going to hurt.”

The biggest part of the concession package would end the county’s practice of paying part of employees’ pension obligations – a practice known as a pension pick-up or retirement pick-up. The county also pays the employer’s share of pension obligations.

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From a reader . . .

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I attached the Contract adjustment from 2010. As you can see, SBPEA in fact did NOT get ANY guarantees in our favor regarding our Flex Schedules nor regarding the Standard Tour of Duty clause.  In fact, if you read the below quote it appears to me that SBPEA actually “stipulated” that the County’s position regarding Standard Tour of Duty and their “right” to cut our hours is the correct interpretation of the Standard Tour of Duty MOU language. Read the Blue highlighted text below carefully:

“STANDARD TOUR OF DUTY
ALL UNITS

The County recognizes that employees value their currently assigned work schedules and that the employees have made other agreements included in this contract based on the County’s representation that they will not change work schedules without a legitimate business need [WHO decides what a “legitimate business need” is??]. During the term of this contract, the County will not impose bargaining unit-wide, classification-wide, or department-wide work schedule changes without a legitimate business reason [WHO decides what a “legitimate business reason” is??]. However, nothing herein shall be construed to limit the right of the County to make schedule changes on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Standard Tour of Duty article or the County Management Rights article of the MOU. In such instances where it is necessary to make schedule changes, the County will comply with the requirements of the MOU.

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iePolitics: San Bernardino County Employees for Change

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The San Bernardino County Employees for Change along with the IBEW will be hosting a Meet & Greet BBQ in July.

Please plan to attend if you are a County employee interested in our cause.
IBEW Representatives will be available for you to bring your questions, comments or concerns regarding the San Bernardino County Employees for Change & our cause for better representation!!!
Bring the family & Spread the Word!
IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE
Details to Follow regarding exact date & time.
Here is their Facebook page:  Facebook

iePolitics: Are layoffs around the corner?

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From what we are hearing neither SEBA or SBPEA plans to play ball with County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux and his plan for employees to pay their seven percent of retirement. And that means County Fire and exempt don’t have to play either because their agreements were tied to everyone else doing the same thing.  We hear plans for layoffs at the Sheriff’s Department are already being made.  And we suspect the same is true for the rest of the county.  Geez, it is only six weeks until the end of the fiscal year.  Is the Fifth Floor really this inept?

iePolitics: Is the Bob Blough comment accurate?

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Some of you may not have noticed the comment on my most recent post regarding SBPEA.  Someone claimed that Bob Blough’s contract is tied to Greg Devereaux’s contract, meaning Bob earns whatever Greg earns.  I believe Devereaux’s total compensation must be around $400,000 a year for handling something like 19,000 employees and a $6 billion budget.  Blough has what, maybe 30 employees and a $$ million budget.  (Someone please get me more accurate figures.)  Could it be?

iePolitics: A SBPEA kind of evening

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Tonight I attended the meeting hosted by San Bernardino County Employees For Change and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to discuss the decertification of SBPEA.  During past meetings SBPEA General Manager Bob Blough sat in the parking lot and photographed all employees who went into venue.  Knowing Bob’s history, I have no doubt those photos were turned over to Human Resources Director Andrew Lamberto so that they could be investigated and set up for termination.  That is Blough’s modus operandi.

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iePolitics: The next meeting to eliminate SBPEA

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Hello County Employees,

We will be having another Informational meeting on Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 at 6:00 pm at Cocos Restaurant and the address is 242 East Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino. We ask that you share this information with co-workers and other county employees that are interested in real union representation. There will be a IBEW representative to answer any and all of your questions that you may have.

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iePolitics: Is Rutherford selling out?

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It seems that Supervisor Janice Rutherford had a recent fundraiser and among the attendees was San Bernardino Public Employees Association General Manager Bob Blough and one of his thugs.  Blough and SBPEA, of course, have a history of using county employees’ money to support losers.

SBPEA sunk $50,000 into John Longville’s campaign to defeat Josie Gonzales, but apparently she can forgive them now that they are paying her off. They gave Hansberger over $41,000 in his loss to Neil Derry. Fortunately, Neil has shown more ethics than Josie.

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iePolitics: Karma is a bitch; maybe Blough will be next

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The name John Tanner is likely not familiar to anyone who has not followed my blog from the very beginning.  John Tanner was, and I stress “was,” Executive Director of the SEIU local representing Los Angeles County Employees.  Tanner was recently relieved of his duties.  Why is that important?  It is actually very important to San Bernardino County general employees.

I met John Tanner back in 2006 when I was running for the SBPEA Board of Directors.  I won the election with the largest number of votes in SBPEA history, a distinction I still hold.

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iePolitics: More info on SBPEA

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Someone has come forward who is interested in helping with an initiative to limit the control SBPEA and other unions have in San Bernardino County.  We are doing the research to be sure we can do what needs to be done to through an amendment to the County Charter. 

Basically, the plan is to do what the governor tried to do a few years ago and give employees the ability to not belong to any union if they choose.  We would also like to make the decertification process easier so that unions have to provide customer service or be gone.  Right now with over a half million dollars in contributions to the BOS, the unions have to do nothing for its members and the BOS has repaid them with an ordinance that allows them to collect our money and stab us in the back at the same time.

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iePolitics: Changing the County Charter to get rid of SBPEA

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I’ve been asked over and over about what employees can do to get rid of San Bernardino Public Employees Association.  The reason it is so hard is because several years ago the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors enacted a new labor relations ordinance that makes it virtually impossible for any other union to represent county employees.

We all know that the BOS likes SBPEA representing us and the reasons why.  Bob Blough and Scott Ryan make sure that the BOS is well rewarded for their support, such as the $50,000 donation to Supervisor Gary Ovitt.

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InlandPolitics: S.B. County to ask employees for concessions

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www.inlandpolitics.com

Monday, December 27, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.

The arrival of 2011 brings with it a new round of budget problems for San Bernardino County officials.

The annual question of layoffs or ? is coming to an employee union near you.

County unions will once again be asked by the county to go to their memberships and extract concessions in an effort to avert layoffs.

Layoffs being a remedy the county seems to view as a bogeyman in a dark closet.

However this time around the questions employees are to face will most likely be much simpler.

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iePolitics: “No one would believe Gary Ovitt is corrupt”

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Well, yes they would.  Just ask anyone about the deal cut whereby Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Ovitt received $50,000 from the San Bernardino Public Employees Association, the union representing general employees, and in turn SBPEA Board of Director’s president, Scott Ryan, received a promotion.  Guess who was a part of that?  None other than County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.

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iePolitics: The beginning of the end for SBPEA

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Employees from the city of San Bernardino voted yesterday to decertify the San Bernardino Public Employees Association.  However, we have been told that SBPEA General Manager Bob Blough intends to challenge the outcome because less than 60 percent of the employees cast ballots.

From what I have been told, the city’s labor relations resolution requires a 60-percent threshold, or at least that is what Blough is claiming.   The state mediator ignored that threshold and determined that the decertification was successful.

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iePolitics: Did you get your money’s worth?

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For those of you who are members of San Bernardino Public Employees Association, here are their politicial action committee amounts.  All of this money comes out of your paychecks.  did you get your money’s worth?

SUMMARY INFORMATION – SAN BERNARDINO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE’S ASSOCIATION PAC (ID# 822188)
CURRENT STATUS ACTIVE
LAST REPORT DATE THIS SESSION 10/21/2010
REPORTING PERIOD 10/01/2010 – 10/16/2010
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THIS PERIOD $0.00
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS 1/1/2010 – 10/16/2010 $291,768.00
EXPENDITURES FROM THIS PERIOD $63,002.10
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 1/1/2010 – 10/16/2010 $289,901.69
ENDING CASH $624,354.78

iePolitics: Board of Retirement General Member

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I finally received my ballot.  The candidates are:

  • Celestine Bryant
  • Danny Tillman
  • Louis Fiorino

Hopefully Celestine is not one of our secret HSS fans because I’m not going to recommend a vote for her.  I have no issue with either Danny or Louis.  I worked with Danny more than two decades ago.  But the one of the three that I know to be a real employee advocate is Louis Fiorino.  He is often the lone voice on the SBPEA Board of Directors who stands up against Bob Blough when Bob is screwing us over.  I have no doubt he will always vote for what is best for employees and not cave to what Bob or Greg want.

iePolitics: SBPEA decertification campaign

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I spoke with Stan today and he was going to send me the links to the websites.  However, I have not received them and am not sure when I will next have an internet connection.  If someone would send them to me so I can get them posted, I would appreciate it.  Thanks.

Also, I would appreciate an update on the city of San Bernardino situation.

iePolitics: Yet another happy SBPEA customer

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October 1, 2010

Scott Ryan, President

SBPEA Executive Board

433 North Sierra Way

P.O. Box 432

San Bernardino, CA  92402-0432                                                                Via Certified Mail

RE:  DEMAND LETTER

Dear Mr. Ryan:

On June 1, 2010, I sent the attached letter by certified mail (copy of certified receipts attached).  To date, I have never received the courtesy of a reply.  I am now writing to demand that all fees paid by me to the San Bernardino Public Employees Association (SBPEA) during my career with the County of San Bernardino be reimbursed.  I estimate that amount to be approximately $2,574.00, taking into account approximately five (5) years that I was in the Exempt classification and did not pay representation fees.  These funds must be received by no later than Friday, October 15, 2010.  If I do not receive the funds before that time, I will seek any and all legal remedies available to me, including, but not limited to:  small claims court, filing complaints with any applicable agencies that oversee employee associations, and/or filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of all employees who have not been assisted by, or have been inadequately assisted by, the SBPEA.

Your prompt attention to this matter would be appreciated.

N. Traecey Anthony

Redlands, CA  92374

iePolitics: Another unhappy SBPEA customer

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It looks like there may be a decertification vote to get rid of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association (SBPEA) and bring in the International Union of Operating Engineers by the employees of the city of San Bernardino.  Someone needs to remind me if this is the same union currently working on a decertification vote in San Bernardino County for all of us.

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iePolitics: More TAD supervisor abuse

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We discussed this case a bit before, but we are now free to name names. As we have written about previously, the management at the San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) is so hellbent on their current witch hunt that they have thrown caution and taxpayer dollars to the wind.  They will do anything to fire employees up to and including blatantly committing misdemeanors and violating civil rights.  So far about 100 heads are on the chopping block in their latest rampage. Many of those employees are already filing Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) complaints in anticipation of filing lawsuits against the county.

So what happens when one of their own commits an act much worse than what the employees are being accused of?  You see, in this case, TAD Supervisor Sanci Black had an employee access Sanci’s significant other’s C-IV file and make changes to the documents.  This is clearly a misdemeanor at best as well as violation of a number of county rules and regulations.  Any line staff employee would be fired for this.  But Sanci isn’t line staff.

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iePolitics: SBPEA Board of Directors

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Just a reminder that your ballots are due this Friday.  If you are not aware of the way the voting works, it is important that you vote for one and only one Child Support candidate and one and only one TAD candidate.

Incumbent Al Wozniak is one of the people responsible for taking away the Flex Plan from employees with less than 15 years. The cutoff was set at 15 years because that is how many years Al had in and didn’t want to lose it. Everyone with fewer years than he had got screwed.  I strongly suggest you vote for  a TAD employee who is not currently on the Board of Directors.  He is also among those responsible for single employees losing full coverage and having to pay for other employees’ family members’ health insurance.

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iePolitics: Speaking of stupid supervisors

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Supervisor Derry,

No, that title is not in reference to you. I was asked to pass this along in reference to your question a few weeks ago regarding SBPEA and the County of San Bernardino.

It seems Andrew Lamberto/Linda Haugan/Bob Blough are at it again. Remember that email I sent  to you and George that you both ignored regarding PID Chief Virginia Lugo, et al., using C-IV to run all employees to see if they have ever been on a welfare case of any kind?  Well sometimes illegal activities backfire.

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iePolitics: So Supervisor Derry, you’re a chicken – I thought you were a Marine!

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You chickened out huh?  You know what I mean!  That’s okay.  Public airing of county issues is probably best anyway.

So, you did not provide me with an answer regarding the four bargaining units in SEBA. Of course, we all know the answer already.  And that answer shows my original premise was correct.  The county did in fact tell the unions how the vote would be conducted and what the outcome would be.   This wasn’t simply Bob Blough mouthing off, but an agreement between the county and the unions.

You can’t blame that on the unions.  Greg Devereaux and the Board of Supervisors are clearly at fault here.  You have an obligation when you know that the unions are not conducting elections lawfully to step in.  I’ve told you that; Jim has told you that. But because you liked the outcome and you know a legal election would not have the same outcome, you chose to look the other way.   And that makes you as crooked as the rest.

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iePolitics: Question for SEBA and Attorneys Union members

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Bob Blough, general manager of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association, has told his board of directors that although two units of SEBA voted to give up their raises, the county gave raises to all four units represented by SEBA.   Is this true?  How about the attorneys? Did you get your raises or not?

iePolitics: Supervisor Derry: Clarification and more examples

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Supervisor Derry, since you have so graciously given up some of your Saturday night and Sunday morning to argue with me on the blog, I am going to give up my morning’s Frontierville play to try to explain to you the points I am trying to make.  As upset as I am about this, you are still iePolitics’ favorite supervisor. :)

As an elected official, elected to any office in California whatsoever, you have an obligation to uphold the Constitution of the State of California and the Constitution of the United States.  Hopefully, we both agree on that.

As an elected official, especially as a member of the governing body of the county of San Bernardino, we the public expect you to initiate an investigation when you have reason to suspect or personally witness unethical or illegal behavior by any person or entity under the purview of your jurisdiction.  That investigation may be as simple as referring the matter to Human Resources or as serious as referring it to the Grand Jury.  No one expects you to call in the Calvary for every act or suspected/alleged of malfeasance, but you are expected to at very least have someone in authority look at the situation to determine if there is any justification for further action.

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iePolitics: Well Supervisor Derry, ignoring the elephant in the room makes you as dirty as the rest of them

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You know Neil, we try to defend you here at iePolitics most of the time.  But some things are beyond defensible.

For example, your comment that the POST scandal is a personnel matter.  It is NOT a personnel matter.  It is a FELONY matter that involved Sheriff Rod Hoops, former Sheriff Gary Penrod, and at least a couple dozen others ranging from clerical staff to deputy chiefs. It is misconduct of the worst kind by public officials and it is being swept under the rug with the tacit approval of the board of supervisors.

But it’s okay because you all endorse one another for election, donate to one another’s campaigns, and attend one another’s fundraisers.  We wouldn’t want justice to interfere with that, now would we?

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iePolitics: Too bad the FBI won’t make arrests in the Fourth District and beyond

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I guess I had what some might call an epiphany this week.  Many of our readers would say it is about time.

You see, for the first time since the corruption scandal started, I genuinely want to see Mark Kirk, Gary Ovitt, Greg Devereaux, and others led away in handcuffs, booked and serve some jail time.  Do I believe it will happen?  No, I don’t.  I still feel the Colonies Settlement is clean.

Everything else in the Fourth District office, however,  is not so clean.  But the problem is that neither Mikey and Moonbeam or the FBI will look at the real dirt.  Mikey and Moonbeam are too busy accepting campaign donations from SEBA and SBPEA.  The FBI isn’t interested in the kind of real corruption that goes on in this county.

In this instance, it is simply not the sort of thing the FBI will get involved with.  I’m not suggesting there will not be arrests made, just not arrests of the county’s most corrupt individuals, except possibly Mikey.

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iePolitics: SBPEA update

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As I mentioned in a previous post, there was a meeting on Saturday regarding the most recent stunt pulled off against San Bernardino County employees by our union, the San Bernardino Public Employees Association and our employer, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.  A game plan was discussed.

There will be a website up and running in the next week or so.  I will text those on my text list with the hyperlink as soon as it is ready.

The next meeting will be held in about three weeks.  It will be on a week night in the San Bernardino area.  The specifics will be on the website.

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iePolitics: Updates

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I’ve received a few more anonymous tips regarding TAD, etc.  Someone from Human Services System Program Integrity Division Chief Virginia Lugo wrote and ratted her out.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the information as was she is doing is clearly a misdemeanor at best and she needs to be fired.  I’m just not sure how to make that happen as we know nothing will get done by County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux or the Board of Supervisors.

Does anyone have any suggestions?  My thought is to send the information to the Attorney General and file a complaint with the Grand Jury, but I’m not sure.

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iePolitics: Time To Go On The Offensive

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I have been the recipient of a few pep talks regarding taking out SBPEA.  It is time we do it.  Although much can be posted to the blog, it is not always the most expedient way to get information out.  I am going to start using three other methods:  Twitter, Facebook, and texting.

You can find us on Twitter at iepoliticscom.  You can find me on Facebook.  If you had been a “friend,” you may not be now.  I deleted my old account and started over. Continue reading →

iePolitics: SBPEA

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Enough employees came forward after I pouted that I have sent off inquiries to three attorneys regarding filing suit against SBPEA and possibly the county.  We have had employees come forward and offer to sign affidavits regarding Bob’s claims that the county forced him to vote the contract as a group and not by bargaining unit.  This is a very important point as it shows collusion by the county.  We need employees who heard him say that come to come forward. Continue reading →

iePolitics: SBPEA

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Not long ago I wrote a piece regarding the Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA) where I stated:

If this question was being posed by SBPEA members I would not waste the keystrokes because there is not even one pair of testicles among the 17,000 members.

I had hoped that the most recent stunt Bob Blough and Scott Ryan pulled to harm the members of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association would be enough to light a fire under some of you. I should have known better. Continue reading →