Thank you Richard for making a very stressful day less stressful. Lots of free ads once the situation we discussed today is resolved.
iePolitics: A very big thank you to Richard
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Tag Archives: San Bernardino County
iePolitics: Guess what I just got!
I just now received a notification from Google that my gmail account was accessed by a San Bernardino County computer. Because I am logged in on my computer and someone else logged in from another computer (it was a SBCO IP address) at the same time, Google sent me a warning and suggested I log out of all computers. So who do you think that might be?
iePolitics: Are layoffs around the corner?
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?
Huffington Post: San Bernardino, California: Politicians Gone Wild?
Posted: 05/11/11 05:51 PM ET
As if the residents of San Bernardino needed any more bad news about their political officials, the State Attorney General, Kamala Harris, and San Bernardino County District Attorney, Michael Ramos, have just announced that three past and current public officials and one local developer were indicted on, among things, charges of bribery and misappropriation of public funds. As I have previously noted the residents of San Bernardino are unfortunately no strangers to disgraced representatives.
The alleged $102 million bribery scheme includes former supervisor Paul Biane, who is currently a fugitive from justice, Mark Kirk, the director of government relations in the county administrative office and former chief of staff for county supervisor Gary Ovitt, Jeff Burum, a partner at the now-infamous local developer, and James Erwin, former assistant assessor. “WANTED” posters for Blaine now hang in San Bernardino. That can hardly do much for public confidence.
iePolitics: Will the ethics virus spread to SB County?
The story below represents the second time in as many weeks that someone in Riverside County is trying to introduce ethics reform to the county’s electeds. First, it was former Norco councilman who want’s to cut the Riverside County Board of Supervisors members pay in half.
Now one of their own is suggesting contribution limits. Contribution limits are well and good but I have to say this seems like a pre-emptive strike. These “limits” remind us of San Bernardino County’s “term limits.” Both are rather generous “limits” in comparison to other jurisdictions. I suspect the supervisor introduced the concept to dissuade others from with coming up with something more punitive.
But the big question is this. When will someone in San Bernardino County introduce measures to limit supervisors’ pay and campaign contributions. It can’t be too far around the corner.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Supervisor proposing limits on campaign giving
10:00 PM PST on Thursday, February 10, 2011
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone is proposing campaign contribution limits for the board and countywide officials.
Stone, a Republican, will ask his colleagues Tuesday to support a measure to limit how much any person can donate to county campaigns.
“Although history has shown that money alone cannot buy elections, it has a strong influence, giving well-funded individuals or interest groups an advantage in promoting one candidate over others,” Stone wrote in his proposal released Thursday afternoon.
InlandPolitics: S.B. County pension costs climb
Saturday, January 8, 2011 – 09:55 a.m.
San Bernardino County has finally received the expected bad news on the pension front this week.
County Supervisors are scheduled to approve new contribution rates to the county pension system at their meeting this Tuesday.
InlandPolitics: S.B. County to ask employees for concessions
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.
Supervisor Neil Derry: Sunshine Ordinance Moves Forward
Third District County Supervisor Neil Derry
Supervisor Derry optimistic that his groundbreaking legislation will be fully adopted in October
SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The Sunshine Ordinance authored by Supervisor Neil Derry passed a crucial test today when the Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the measure in its first reading.
The groundbreaking legislation that will bring unprecedented transparency to county government must still be approved during the second reading at the Oct. 5 meeting before it can be fully implemented.
Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt: Supervisors Vote to Require More-Open County Government
First District County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2010
For information, contact
David Zook (909) 387-4830
Supervisors Vote to Require More-Open County Government
SAN BERNARDINO – The Board of Supervisors today gave initial approval to a Sunshine Ordinance that would make it easier for the public to obtain county documents and help restore public confidence in county government.
“This ordinance embodies what I have called for since becoming a supervisor – maximum disclosure with minimum delay,” said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. “We should always be looking for better ways to help the people access their government. Third District Supervisor Neil Derry deserves thanks for bringing this item forward and for all of his hard work toward making it a reality.”
InlandPolitics: S.B. County places pension fund under scrutiny
- Written by Administrator
- Posted September 20, 2010 at 9:30 am
Monday, September 20, 2010 – 9:30 a.m.
For years San Bernardino County’s pension fund, the San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association (SBCERA), wanted its independence from the county.
A couple years ago SBCERA got its way.
The pension fund lobbied Sacramento for the passage of legislation that allowed the entity to convert into what is known as a “special district”. A designation giving it’s board of trustee’s independence from broad county oversight.
SbGrapevine: Brad Mitzelfelt: The Rise to Power (Road to the Chairmanship?)
Brad Mitzelfelt
At over 17,000 square miles, San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt holds the distinction of being the local elected official for an area larger than nine states. His First District is the largest county district in the lower 48 states. The fact that that there are only seven incorporated cities with relatively small spheres of influence within that expanse only increases the enormity of the job.
Mitzelfelt began his life in public service by joining the United States Marine Corps in 1986, where he served his country as part of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He was a public affairs specialist. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant and served a total of ten years between active duty and reserves.
iePolitics: Military bias in San Bernardino County?
I was asked by someone last night if I am aware of a bias towards veterans/reservists in the county. Specifically, the person wants to know if others are treated differently or passed up for promotions because they are in the reserves.
What I can say is that with the Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) I have run across numerous supervisors/managers who hate military people and will not knowingly hire someone with a military background. We have discussed the one TAD supervisor on this blog before who told her unit during a staff meeting how much she hated military people, with two retired military members sitting right there in front of her.
iePolitics: The Hueston debacle
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.
iePolitics: San Bernardino County’s New Blog
Attention San Bernardino County Webmaster: You guys suck! Ya know, I know how to maneuver around the county’s website and I get frustrated and confused. I can only imagine how the average citizen feels trying to find information they are looking for online.
Case in point: A few weeks ago there was an article about a new group formed called the Inland Empire Destination Council. This council’s purpose is to promote San Bernardino County for something besides corruption. They started their own website and blog, which I find very humorous because iePolitics and InlandPolitics will always receive more hits and have a higher SEO ranking than anything positive the county puts out. But I digress.
iePolitics: So who is fornicating now?
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.
Supervisor Neil Derry: Supervisor Derry Calls for Banning of all Rave Parties at County Owned Facilities
Urges state legislature to ban dangerous events at state owned venues
SAN BERNARDINO, CA – At the behest of San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry, County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux has issued a directive that would prohibit all county owned facilities from hosting rave parties.
“Parents have a reasonable expectation to believe that their children will be safe while attending events held at county owned venues,” Supervisor Derry said. “And it has become crystal clear that there is a reasonable expectation that our youth are at significant risk for exposure to drugs and sexual assault at these events.”
The Sentinel: Sheriff’s Department gathered photographs of DA Mike Ramos cavorting with prostitutes
District Attorney Mike Ramos
The San Bernardino County Sentinel
Friday, July 16, 2010
Former sheriff Gary Penrod accumulated compromising information and materials pertaining to district attorney Mike Ramos which was then utilized to blackmail Ramos and head off an incipient effort by the district attorney’s office to file criminal charges against Penrod pertaining to a host of criminal acts the sheriff was himself involved in.
InlandPolitics: S.B. County: Vehicle study reportedly identifies $2 million in savings
- Written by Administrator
- Posted July 10, 2010 at 9:00 am
San Bernardino County may have identified a source for potentially significant savings.
Significant as in $2 million per year, according to sources. A nice amount especially in light of budget constraints. Continue reading
InlandPolitics Commentary: S.B. County budget assumptions using “rose-colored” glasses?
- Written by Administrator
- Posted June 27, 2010 at 11:27 am
San Bernardino County is set to adopt its 2010-11 budget next year and the revenue assumption appears to be significantly better than originally thought.
Currently the county projects combined annual operating deficits totaling $222.1 million dollars through the 2014-15 fiscal years. A bright estimate considering current conditions.
Maybe iPad sales at the Apple Store at Victoria Gardens is going to bail the county out.
iePolitics: Vote Bob Lemkau for Judge
http://www.votejudgelemkau.com/minorscounselnow.html
Minor’s Counsel Now!
Children need a voice in court, too
As a San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge, I believe that the eradication of Minor’s Counsel in San Bernardino County is a travesty. To rectify the lack of Minor’s Counsel in family-law courts nationwide, I have established an online discussion forum where family-law judges, attorneys, and advocates can develop a campaign for this vital legislation. Legal professionals are encouraged to join Minor’s Counsel Now!
A case for Minor’s Counsel
While the adults present their arguments before a judge for dissolution, it is not uncommon for a child, completely innocent of malice, to be used as a weapon of manipulation, which adds to the child’s anguish. But, when a child has a voice by way of counsel in the form of a family-law attorney with a background in psychology or social work, the court can more easily recognize divisive deceptions presented by the litigants. The child’s own words can protect and serve as a safeguard from further unnecessary torment. Continue reading
iePolitics: Paul Schrader for Sheriff
There has been a cloud of corruption over the San Bernardino County government for the past decade. So much corruption that even elected officials who have not been involved in any scandals are viewed with suspicion by the citizens of San Bernardino County.
My goal is to give the citizens of San Bernardino County something that is desperately needed; A Fresh Start. That start begins with concerned, responsive elected officials. A Fresh Start with innovative plans and solutions to the challenges we face. Fresh, proactive leadership that will restore faith, hope, and the belief that a better future for our families and our children is not only possible, but is something we can accomplish together. No longer will the citizens of San Bernardino be barred from participating in the design of our future, your voices silenced or unheard. I pledge to you that there will be a Fresh Start in law enforcement, that you will be a part of it, your voice will be heard. Continue reading
iePolitics: The Race for Sheriff
There are three candidates running for the office of San Bernardino Sheriff/Coroner, all of whom are Republicans. Current Sheriff Rod Hoops was appointed by the Board of Supervisors last year to replace retiring Sheriff Gary Penrod. San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff Mark Averbeck was the first to challenge his boss for the top spot. And Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Paul Schrader is also vying for the top cop position.
To a degree, this was one of the toughest races for me to make a decision about and that may surprise regular readers of iePolitics. I believe all three candidates are good men who want what is best for this county. Continue reading
iePolitics: Racism and Cops
I have received about six emails containing racist/sexist material in the past hour that is being passed around by members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Fontana Police Department and others. There were names you would recognize, including current and former council members, etc. Some of this stuff is absolutely appalling like the picture of Obama with a tail and jokes that no black person can hold a job for four years. Anyone who claims that racial profiling and sexual harassment are a figment of our imagination should see what cops find funny. And the worst part, some of those involved are supervisors and higher. Continue reading
iePolitics: Another Scandal To Hit The Sheriff’s Department
I can’t post the information until I receive at least one more verification, but I swear it never ends. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow we will be able to provide the details. Check back throughout the day.
iePolitics: Time to Replace Some Judges?
There is a long list of San Bernardino County Superior Court judges who are up for election this year. Here is a link to all positions up for election in this county: Offices up for Election 2010 2-1-2010 We have learned this past year that our bench has some good judges and then there are some not-so-good judges. For that matter, one has to wonder how some of them ever got through law school or passed the Bar. Continue reading
InlandPolitics: S.B. County budget plan currently rests on employees, unions
- Written by Administrator
- Posted February 8, 2010 at 12:11 pm
San Bernardino County announced last Friday that it was delaying a planned budget workshop for another month.
For a county that has been asleep at the switch in closing an estimated budget shortfall of $90 million-plus in its upcoming fiscal year is anyone surprised?
Neighboring Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties have at least been continually taking budget reduction steps in an effort to keep their respective situations manageable. Continue reading
iePolitics: Assertive Rights
Many of my friends have been through the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Kaiser and have highly recommended it to me. If it weren’t for county employees, those groups would be empty. I tried to go some months ago, but my supervisor at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center came unglued at the thought. More recently, my doctor all but insisted on it.
I know how many county employees suffer from depression and I can’t recommend the group enough. If you have a supervisor like mine, ask to see Dr. Belin. Mark Uffer ended her county career after 25 years, and as she keeps telling me, there are a lot better places to work than San Bernardino County. She understands what we are going through and will tell the county to “pound sand” on your behalf if she thinks you will benefit from the program.
Today we were given a list of “Assertive Rights.” I thought some of you might find them interesting. Continue reading