Cases involving four criminal defendants which are now entering the evidentiary stage appear to now rest on the sole testimony of one key witness.

Former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman who has plead “no-contest” to one count of Vandalism, two counts of Destroying or Altering Documents, and one count of Presenting a false claim, is now the “go to” guy for District Attorney Michael Ramos, who is attempting to portray himself as a corruption fighter.

Some glaring issues arise here when taking a look at Aleman’s charges.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Administrator at 30 January 2010

The 2010 San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting calendar is posted to the county’s website.  Now that our board members have achieved their full 50-percent raise, they are offsetting it by only showing up for public board meetings slightly more than 50 percent of the time.  The board is dark 25 out of 52 weeks this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

THE WEEK

A new poll shows that the people want control of the state budget, but most don’t know where the money comes from or where it goes.
By Cathleen Decker

January 31, 2010

Last week brought a blizzard of polling on how Californians feel about their government and the economy. In two words: dislike and despair. The fine print suggested we should save a little distaste for ourselves.

A survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that, overwhelmingly, Californians want themselves — not the governor or the Legislature — to be in charge of big budget matters.

Read the rest of this entry »

Los Angeles owns Ontario facility and needs money, but would anyone pay the price?

10:11 PM PST on Saturday, January 30, 2010

By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
The Press-Enterprise

Faced with a $200 million shortfall in its current fiscal year, the city of Los Angeles has considered putting a price tag on Ontario International Airport which it’s owned since 1967.

But will anyone buy?

Aviation experts say no. City officials say they’re simply researching options available to them which include an FAA program started in 1996 allowing five public airports at a time to be leased to interested management firms.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:17 PM PST on Saturday, January 30, 2010

By LESLIE PARRILLA
The Press-Enterprise

Corona is picking up a conversation that started at least 18 years ago.

In 1992, then-City Council candidate Bob McMackin campaigned on the platform that being a charter city, versus a general law city, would allow more local control and keep the state from tapping into coffers.

But for reasons that included the city’s smaller size, the idea never gained a louder voice.

Read the rest of this entry »

City still scrambling to resolve $126 million dispute with GE
BY BROOKE EDWARDS
STAFF WRITER

VICTORVILLE • It’s been nearly four months since the city quietly selected a New Jersey company as the leading contender to buy development rights for the planned $1.2 billion Victorville 2 power plant.

The deal was meant to help stabilize the city’s precarious financial position, with a $126 million payment to General Electric for the power plant’s equipment roughly 15 months past due.

Read the rest of this entry »

January 30, 2010 10:34 AM
Natasha Lindstrom

SAN BERNARDINO • With Assemblyman Anthony Adams bowing out of a bid for re-election in June, several candidates have emerged hoping to claim his seat in the 59th District Assembly.

The 59th District includes Hesperia and Apple Valley and stretches to San Dimas and Glendora in Los Angeles County.

The following residents — mostly Republicans — have announced intentions to run for the seat:

Read the rest of this entry »

Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/30/2010 06:12:16 AM PST

HIGHLAND – The City Council has committed $11 million in Redevelopment Agency bond money to fund infrastructure improvements along Greenspot Road, between the 210 Freeway and Boulder Avenue.

The design for the improvements could be completed by April, said Public Works Director Ernie Wong. It’s likely that sometime after April the city will begin awarding bids for some projects, Wong said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/30/2010 06:12:16 AM PST

FONTANA – Annexation has cooled in the last couple of years and it looks like it might be put on ice after the city squares off its corporate boundaries on the south side.

“I don’t think I see us going forward unless some state legislation made it really attractive to go forward and do some annexation,” Mayor Mark Nuaimi said Friday.

The city later this year hopes to initiate plans to annex 472 acres on the south side of the 10 Freeway between Mulberry and Almond avenues north of Jurupa Avenue.

Read the rest of this entry »

Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/30/2010 02:59:01 PM PST

San Bernardino County public schools are spending more than $34 million in state and federal money this school year to educate English learners, a group whose population has doubled since 1995.

That amount doesn’t include additional funding for services and programs available to English learners as well as other students.

Fueled by skyrocketing immigration over the past 15 years, the growth is forcing school districts to make dramatic changes in the classroom.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Dan Morain, Senior editor
dmorain@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1E

It’s not easy being Steve Poizner, at least not when you’re compared to former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman.

Poizner made a bunch of money in his earlier Silicon Valley life. Whitman made a ton of money, too, though her bundle may exceed a billion dollars and perhaps is bigger than his.

Read the rest of this entry »

MANY REQUIRED COURSES NOT AVAILABLE; STUDENTS SPILL INTO CSUS HALLWAYS

By Laurel Rosenhall
lrosenhall@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 – 9:45 am

California’s budget crisis came into stark focus in the halls of Sacramento State last week, where many students returning for spring semester were turned away from classes they had hoped to get into, or strained from hallways to hear lectures in classes that had enrolled way more students than there were seats.

In Alpine Hall, a group of dejected seniors stood in the hallway after being booted from a writing class they must take if they are to graduate in May. It was full, they weren’t on the waiting list, and the professor didn’t let any extra students in.

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By Silla Brush – 01/31/10 12:01 AM ET

The $700 billion bailout program for the financial industry has so far done little to boost bank lending, aid small businesses or reduce home foreclosures, a top government watchdog said in a report.

Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general over the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), said in a report that while the bailout has helped stabilize the financial system, many of the program’s original goals have not been met.

Read the rest of this entry »

More questions continue to be raised regarding the recently released report into the conduct of District Attorney Michael Ramos and his department, involving a former mistress of Ramos.

I last focused on statements made to investigators by Ramos and the number of inconsistencies.

Now let’s look at the treatment of Investigative Technician Cheryl Ristow. Ristow had a 17-month long affair with Ramos in the 2003 to 2005 period of time.

Even though it would now appear it was more of a relationship of necessity and convenience for Ramos.

Wanna have sex? Just pick up the phone.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Friday, January 29, 2010

By CASSIE MACDUFF
The Press-Enterprise

Anybody who expected San Bernardino County to investigate allegations that District Attorney Mike Ramos had affairs with several women who work for him must be disappointed.

A report released this week reads like an investigation of the woman who went public about her alleged affair, not of the DA.

If any other women were thinking of coming forward, they surely won’t after seeing the outcome for Cheryl Ristow, 50, of Redlands.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Friday, January 29, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A former San Bernardino County official must stand trial on corruption charges stemming from a probe at the assessor’s office, a superior court judge ruled Friday.

Judge Duke Rouse found that there was enough evidence to try Rex Gutierrez on charges of grand theft and misappropriation of public funds. The two felony counts carry a sentence of up to four years in prison.

Read the rest of this entry »

In an effort to close the city’s $208-million budget shortfall, the proposal would be in addition to 1,000 job cuts already threatened.
By David Zahniser and Maeve Reston

January 30, 2010

Faced with a shortfall now reaching $208 million, the top budget official at Los Angeles City Hall said Friday that he is preparing a list of 500 jobs to be cut from the payroll — on top of the 1,000 already threatened with elimination.

Those reductions, if approved by the City Council over the next several weeks, would bring city government personnel cuts to 3,900 this year. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the council have already agreed to let 2,400 employees retire with full benefits up to five years early.

Read the rest of this entry »

January 29th, 2010, 3:14 pm
Posted by Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief

As far as Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is concerned he’d rather Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck came to talk to the House Republican retreat in Baltimore today than the President of the United States.

President Barack Obama did an almost unheard of thing – a president of one party going to the retreat of another. He not only made a statement but took some tough questions from the Republican lawmakers.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Dale Kasler
and Jon Ortiz dkasler@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

CalPERS billed it as a sober, factual discussion of pension fund costs, aimed at toning down the rhetoric over an explosive political issue.

But there was no shortage of emotion during the daylong forum – particularly when a panel discussion including a prominent labor leader and a key aide to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger turned personal.

Read the rest of this entry »

Carly Fiorina

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
January 29, 2010

Republican U.S. Senate candidates Carly Fiorina and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore each raised more than $1 million through the end of 2009, but Fiorina had a significant cash-on-hand advantage after loaning her campaign $2.5 million, according to year-end statements they released Friday.

Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, had $2.75 million in cash at the end of 2009, compared to $226,364 for DeVore. Former congressman Tom Campbell entered the Senate race two weeks ago and had to start his fundraising anew after dropping his gubernatorial bid.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/29/2010 08:56:21 PM PST

A Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former county employee stole from taxpayers when he attended city events on county time, billing the city for mileage and collecting pay from the county, according to court testimony on Friday.

At the conclusion of Councilman Rex Gutierrez’s preliminary hearing in San Bernardino Superior Court, Judge Duke D. Rouse ordered Gutierrez, 50, to stand trial on charges of felony grand theft and misappropriation of public funds.

Read the rest of this entry »

Matt Wrye, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/29/2010 02:46:15 PM PST

U.S. growth domestic product shot up 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter.

But the good news might have easily fallen on deaf ears if you’re jobless or facing mounting financial burdens.

As some people cheer the unexpectedly high GDP number showing that our national economy grew much more than expected, unemployed Inland Empire residents have yet to see relief.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Mike Spence – Los Angeles County

1-19-2010 8:58 am

The surprise decision by Assemblyman Adams not to seek re-election to the 59th Assembly District has set off a scramble for the sprawling Los Angeles and San Bernardino County seat.

The 59th District contains all or parts of the Eastern Los Angeles County communities of. Los Angeles County communities of Claremont, La Verne, Glendora, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Bradbury, Arcadia and La Crescenta then suddenly goes north through the Angeles Forest and East into San Bernardino to take in the San Bernardino County communities of Apple Valley, Hesperia, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, San Bernardino, Highland and Mentone. It is a district that makes the case for redistricting reform.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Administrator at 29 January 2010

Former San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office Intergovernmental Affairs Officer Rex Gutierrez appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing on charges of embezzlement and grand theft relating to time card fraud. His case was bound over for trial starting in about 60 days.

Among the witnesses was San Bernardino County Human Resources Director Andrew Lamberto, who testified that Gutierrez’s work hours were determined by his immediate supervisor, former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman.   Aleman has already plead guilty to four felonies in connection with the scandal, including presenting a false claim, in exchange for his testimony against the remaining defendants.

Read the rest of this entry »

Published: Jan. 28, 2010
Updated: Jan. 29, 2010 9:47 a.m.

By RONALD CAMPBELL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Chriss Street’s personal fortune and political career are on the line in a civil trial next week.

The Orange County treasurer-tax collector is fighting allegations that he looted a bankrupt trucking company while serving as its trustee. His replacement as trustee, Los Angeles money manager Dan Harrow, has sued him for $7 million.

Read the rest of this entry »

‘Underemployment’ near or above 20 pct in 9 states as part-timers, discouraged workers grow

By Christopher S. Rugaber,
AP Economics Writer,

On Friday January 29, 2010, 5:57 pm EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union Wednesday that “one in 10 Americans still cannot find work.” But in nine states the figure is much worse — closer to one in five, according to Labor Department data released Friday.

The figures are a stark illustration of how tough it is to find a full-time job, even as the economy has grown for two straight quarters. The official unemployment rate of 10 percent doesn’t include people who are working part-time but would prefer full-time work, or the unemployed who have given up looking for work.

Read the rest of this entry »

The law firm of Curiale Hirschfeld Kraemer tracked information suggesting that district attorney Mike Ramos had sexual relations with at least four employees who currently or formerly worked in his office, according to information gathered for a report tendered by that law firm on January 12 and released by the county January 27.

The report itself together with information cross-referenced by the Sentinel and augmented by the law firm’s investigative work product that included interviews with district attorney’s employees which were not included in the report either confirmed or otherwise indicated that Ramos’ liaisons with women linked to him in previous public reports could in some fashion be substantiated.

Read the rest of this entry »

A group of 12 Grand Terrace residents has filed with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office a complaint alleging that city councilwoman Bea Cortes engaged in multiple flagrant violations of Government Code Section 1090, the state of California’s conflict of interest law.

The complaint, which was provided to the public integrity unit formed by district attorney Mike Ramos in 2003 to deal with violations of the public trust perpetrated by elected and appointed city and government officials, contains allegations that Cortes voted repeatedly over the last four years to approve city payments to her employer, Terra Loma Real Estate and compounded the matter by attempting to hide the matter from public scrutiny by failing to report her relationship with Terra Loma on the economic interest disclosure documents she is required to file as a public official.

Read the rest of this entry »

06:37 AM PST on Friday, January 29, 2010

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO – Fewer Californians think the nation is on the right track compared to three months ago, with only a small percentage of voters happy with the direction of the state, according to a new Field Poll.

Today’s survey shows that 41 percent of voters think the country is on the right track, down from 48 percent in October. Forty-nine percent of voters think the country is on the wrong track, up from 41 percent.

Read the rest of this entry »

Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/28/2010 05:10:06 PM PST

FONTANA – Mayor Mark Nuaimi delivered a state-of-the-city address Thursday before more than 100 officials, politicos and public employees gathered at the Jesse Turner Community Center in Fontana Park.

“Locally, at the state level, federally, globally, 2009 was an unprecedented opportunity for pain for a lot of people in and around our community,” Nuaimi said.

The mayor’s words followed a video featuring City Council members highlighting the community’s progress during the last decade in what was a concentrated effort by officials to blunt bad economic news with past achievements.

Read the rest of this entry »

Stacia Glenn and Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writers
Posted: 01/28/2010 07:18:35 PM PST

Law enforcement officials throughout the region and across the state are bracing for a possible spike in crime as thousands of state and county prisoners are returned to the streets under a new law aimed at cutting government expenses.

More than 130 non-violent San Bernardino County jail inmates have been turned loose early since Monday and more than 1,000 others could soon join them on the outside.

Read the rest of this entry »

January 28, 2010 5:44 PM
FROM STAFF REPORTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. • In response to the President’s State of the Union address, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon cited three Republican alternatives on key Obama administration priorities.

“Republicans continue to stand ready to work with the President to address the nation’s most pressing issues such as the economy, job creation, small business investment, federal spending, energy, and national security,” McKeon said in a news release.

Read the rest of this entry »

Staff and Wire Reports
Created: 01/28/2010 04:27:31 PM PST

Backers of a California initiative to legalize marijuana said they would submit far more signatures Thursday than needed to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

Volunteers intended to submit about 700,000 signatures collected across all 58 California counties, campaign spokesman Dan Newman said. The initiative needs about 434,000 signatures from registered voters to make the ballot.

Read the rest of this entry »

DEMS PITCH ‘REVENUE NEUTRAL’ PLAN, BUT CRITICS SEE AN END RUN

By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A

Tempers are short, coffers low and a partisan skirmish Thursday on the Assembly floor made the target clear: Take money from some to help others while avoiding the dreaded two-thirds vote requirement.

Assembly Democrats decided to find money to cut textbook costs for college students by closing a corporate tax loophole on multinational corporations.

Read the rest of this entry »

PENSIONS

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System says that as of June 30, 2009, it could meet only an estimated 77% of its future pension obligations — far less than the 100% recommended by actuaries

By Marc Lifsher

January 29, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento – Another pension alarm bell is ringing in Sacramento, this time at the teachers retirement system, where the nation’s second-largest public pension fund is reporting a $43-billion shortfall.

Read the rest of this entry »

Economy grows for 2nd straight quarter at better-than-expected 5.7 pct rate, best since 2003

By Christopher S. Rugaber,
AP Economics Writer
On Friday January 29, 2010, 9:54 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy grew faster than expected at the end of last year, though the engine of that growth — companies replenishing stockpiles — is likely to weaken as consumers keep a lid on spending.

The 5.7 percent annual growth rate in the fourth quarter was the fastest pace since 2003. The Commerce Department report Friday is the strongest evidence to date that the worst recession since the 1930s ended last year, though an academic panel that dates recessions has yet to declare an end to it.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Ed Mendel

A decade ago, when the stock market was booming, the funding levels of CalPERS and CalSTRS were both over 100 percent, a projection that assets would be more than enough to meet pension costs in the decades ahead.

Now the funding levels of the nation’s two largest public pension funds have dropped below what some regard as the acceptable minimum, 80 percent, and for different reasons are not likely to bounce back anytime soon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Capitol Alert

The latest on California politics and government

January 28, 2010

Jerry Brown promised to “mix it up” this morning on his weekly call into San Francisco radio station KGO. And mix it up he did. Listen here.

The attorney general and undeclared Democratic gubernatorial candidate was asked about San Francisco Mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom’s recent remark that Brown didn’t appear to have “fire in his belly” for the race.

Read the rest of this entry »

Supervisor Paul Biane

Point of View

Supervisor Paul Biane
Posted: 01/28/2010 05:56:51 PM PST

Imagine this – you run a nonprofit business that helps a lot of people. Each year, your budget shrinks, but demand for your services increases, forcing you to dip into your bank account to keep things running.

Meanwhile, your personal expenses steadily increase, yet you still have to run the nonprofit to continue providing people with services they need.

California’s most populous counties – including the County of San Bernardino – find themselves in a similar situation with the numerous state and federal social service programs counties are required to administer.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

January 27, 2010 10:12 AM
Natasha Lindstrom

SAN BERNARDINO • An independent investigation into alleged harassment and hostile work environments found San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos and his colleagues did not retaliate against a female employee who filed a $1.5 million claim against the county.

“Ultimately, the weight of evidence compels a finding that there was no retaliation taken against Ristow,” states the report by Santa Monica-based legal firm Curiale Hirschfield Kraemer.

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LEGISLATURE URGED TO BYPASS UNIONS IN REDUCING SALARIES

By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 – 7:46 am

The Legislature’s budget analyst on Wednesday recommended that lawmakers go along with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to cut state employee pay, even without labor unions’ consent, saying the state’s fiscal distress warrants the action.

The report by Diego Martin and Jason Dickerson of the Legislative Analyst’s Office suggests that the state’s finances are so grim and Schwarzenegger’s bargaining position so weak that the Legislature should use its wage-setting powers to reduce state workers’ pay.

Read the rest of this entry »

11:03 PM PST on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

An investigative report into allegations that San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos sexually harassed and retaliated against an employee who says the pair had an affair describes his accuser as having an agenda against him.

The county released the 183-page report Wednesday, a day after a four-hour closed-session meeting in which the Board of Supervisors first saw the report and met with the attorneys who handled the investigation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/27/2010 07:05:27 PM PST

Download: Investigation Report

A 183-page report released Wednesday clears Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos of alleged sexual harassment and workplace retaliation and paints his accuser as lacking credibility.

Cheryl Ristow, an investigative technician for the district attorney’s bureau of investigation, claims she had an affair with Ramos from September 2003 to February 2005.

Read the rest of this entry »

New jobless claims, factory order reports disappoint in fresh evidence of an uneven recovery

By Christopher S. Rugaber and Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer , On Thursday January 28, 2010, 11:57 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Evidence that the economic rebound remains sluggish emerged from reports Thursday on new claims for unemployment aid and orders to U.S. factories.

Scant job creation is restraining consumer spending and holding back economic growth. And factory orders for durable goods, a barometer of the manufacturing industry, are rising too slightly to provide much fuel to the rebound.

Read the rest of this entry »

By John Howard | 01/28/10 12:00 AM PST

In the intensifying debate over budget-driven releases of state prison inmates, the state’s cash problems are well known. But at least one private correctional company is reaping major rewards.

In three years, a private-prison construction and management company, the Corrections Corporation of America, has seen the value of its contracts with the state soar from nearly $23 million in 2006 to about $700 million three months ago – all without competitive bidding. Even in a state accustomed to high-dollar contracts, the 31-fold increase over three years is dramatic.

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Capitol Journal

It “defies logic to presume that a corporation is entitled to the same constitutional rights as the people,” says Ross Johnson of the Fair Political Practices Commission. (Los Angeles Times)

How about tossing all limits and just fully disclosing?
By George Skelton Capitol Journal

January 28, 2010

From Sacramento

Maybe it’s time — time to junk all the political campaign contribution limits with their jumbo loopholes. Just give it up.

In many ways, the restrictions are useless and counterproductive, driving contributions underground and often through the laundry room.

Read the rest of this entry »

Proposition 8 opponents express confidence. The judge could rule by March; an appeal is expected regardless of the ruling.
By Maura Dolan

January 28, 2010

Reporting from San Francisco – Testimony in the historic federal same-sex marriage trial ended Wednesday, with ebullient attorneys for two gay couples expressing confidence and defenders of Proposition 8 conceding they may have to wait for victory from a higher court.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Malcolm Maclachlan | 01/28/10 12:00 AM PST

The battle over whether California Indian tribes can provide Internet poker is coming back to the Capitol, with many in the gambling industry looking towards a hearing next month. Meanwhile, the tribe behind an effort last year to create a state-sanctioned poker site have apparently renewed their efforts to push a bill.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO – State lawmakers continue to solicit tens of thousands of dollars in charitable contributions from businesses and other donors with a stake in Capitol decision-making.

Last month, Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, steered $120,000 in donations to a nonprofit organization that helped pay for a recent Republican legislative retreat at a beachfront resort in Santa Barbara.

Read the rest of this entry »

January 27, 2010 | 9:00 pm

Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown’s lead over former EBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman in the California gubernatorial race has narrowed to just five points, according to a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California. The poll shows Brown with a 41%-36% advantage over Whitman. Brown enjoys a 44%-29% lead over Republican Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 01/27/2010 09:56:11 PM PST

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Grant money, capital projects and a new furniture store were some sources of optimism for Mayor Don Kurth, who gave his fourth State of the City speech at Etiwanda Gardens on Wednesday.

Despite a budget shortfall and a shrunken City Hall work force, Kurth remained sanguine, reminding a group of business and community leaders that Rancho Cucamonga is still a “golden city on the hill.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Created: 01/27/2010 06:15:55 PM PST

San Bernardino County wants the federal government to pick up the $21 million tab to incarcerate and provide probation services for illegal immigrants.

The funding request is contained in the county’s 2010 priority list for state and federal funds, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

“Immigration is a federal responsibility,” said County Supervisor Neil Derry. “Neither the state nor local governments should be required to bear the burden of the failure of the federal government to secure our borders.”

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Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/27/2010 02:48:40 PM PST

HIGHLAND – The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on Wednesday donated $1.7 million to the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders to help with relief efforts in Haiti.

The funds will help the groups provide everything from food to hygiene items, and will also allow the organizations to train Haitians to rebuild and recover from the disaster.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Press-Enterprise

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of two Inland area residents to state boards Wednesday.

Bruce Barton, 49, of Menifee, has been appointed to the Commission on Emergency Medical Services, according to the governor’s office.

Read the rest of this entry »

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos is in full spin mode this afternoon following the release of the long-awaited $140,000 investigation into his conduct involving a former mistress, Cheryl Ristow.

In statements made to local newspapers today, Ramos still denies everything, even the affair.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bea Cortes

City of Grand Terrace council member Bertha Bea Cortes is the focus of a complaint submitted to the San Bernardino County District Attorney this week.

InlandPolitics.com received a copy of the complaint by email this morning.

The complaint signed by twelve citizen’s of the city alleges that Cortes committed multiple violations of the Political Reform Act. Specifically, that Cortes engaged in a conflict of interest in violation of section 1090 of the California Government Code, and committed perjury by filing false statements of economic interest, known as Form 700.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

Riverside County might have to lay off as many as 1,600 employees over the next two years as it grapples with a $71 million budget gap, officials said Tuesday.

But to lessen the blow, supervisors voted to extend an early retirement offer to more than 3,500 employees, despite concern from two members that the plan adds to the county’s future pension costs and hurts future taxpayers.

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SPONSOR SAYS BASS ASKED HIM NOT TO SEEK ASSEMBLY VOTE

By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Legislation to crack down on concert tickets, meal tabs, greens fees, Sacramento Kings tickets and other gifts to California lawmakers has been killed before reaching the Assembly floor.

The derailment marks the second time in two years that bills to restrict gift-giving by interest groups have been shelved with no organized opposition and no lawmaker voting against them.

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Attorney General Jerry Brown

Jan 27

It’s been an open secret* for weeks that Jerry Brown planned to hire longtime aide and Brown family retainer Steve Glazer to run his campaign for governor.

With the MSM now trumpeting this “news” to the skies, it seems like a good time to explain what it actually means.

Brown’s political operation quietly moved out of Jerry’s Oakland loft a couple of months ago, into about 5,000 square feet of warehouse space about a mile and a half away. That relocation, coupled with the confirmation of Glazers’ status, means his campaign is finally, if fitfully, under way.

Read the rest of this entry »

On Wednesday January 27, 2010, 10:29 am

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes fell unexpectedly in December, data showed on Wednesday, the latest indication that the government-led housing recovery might be losing some steam.

The Commerce Department said sales fell 7.6 percent to a 342,000 unit annual rate from an upwardly revised 370,000 units in November. It was the second straight month that new home sales declined.

Read the rest of this entry »

January 26, 2010 11:29 AM
JESSICA CEJNAR Staff Writer

BARSTOW • Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez is being investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office confirmed.

D.A.’s spokesperson Susan Mickey said that the district attorney’s office is reviewing a case involving Gomez, but no decision about filing charges has been made yet. The district attorney’s office received the case from the sheriff’s department Monday, Mickey said. Mickey said she could not comment on what the allegations were.

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07:19 AM PST on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

By BEN GOAD
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON – Two out of three California voters disapprove of the job Congress is doing in Washington, according to a poll released this morning.

But the survey doesn’t necessarily bode well for Republicans angling for big gains this November in the House and the Senate. Most voters here said they were still leaning toward Democratic candidates.

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10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

By SANDRA STOKEY
The Press-Enterprise

GLEN AVON – The California Fair Political Practices Commission has rejected a complaint filed against Jurupa Unified School District board member Mary Burns, citing insufficient information that Burns violated the state’s Political Reform Act.

FPPC Executive Director Roman Porter also advises complainant Denis Fitzgerald that violations of Government Code, section 1090 — which also are alleged in the complaint — are investigated by the local district attorney or the state’s attorney general’s office.

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InlandPolitics.com has learned the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors have authorized the release of the investigation report into the conduct of District Attorney Michael Ramos and members of his department.

The investigation was discussed by supervisors this afternoon in a nearly four-hour long closed session.

Read the rest of this entry »

InlandPolitics.com has received permission to use excerpts from a journal submitted as an exhibit by the complainant to county investigators.

The journal is handwritten and covers the time period from April 24, 2004 through July 25, 2005.

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Congressional Budget Office sees 2010 deficit of $1.35 trillion as economy lags

By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Writer , On Tuesday January 26, 2010, 10:40 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest congressional budget estimates out Tuesday predict a $1.35 trillion deficit for this year as the economy continues to slowly recover from the recession.

The Congressional Budget Office report predicts a sluggish economic recovery and continued high deficits that present twin political problems for President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies.

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This is the first of a multi-part series delving into the investigation of alleged misconduct by District Attorney Michael Ramos.

Tomorrow, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will consider the release of the Ramos investigation report. The report, all memos, findings, conclusions, and most importantly the interview notes are subject to public disclosure. It will be interesting to see what county supervisors do.

As expected, inside sources say that only Supervisor Derry is for full disclosure.

Here is two exhibits in the Ramos investigation provided to county investigators. However, County Counsel Ruth Stringer neglected to mention it in the memo clearing Ramos of a “Purported” relationship, hostile work environment, and retaliation.

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10:00 PM PST on Monday, January 25, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County is proposing to continue its sponsorship of activities at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, but at a reduced level.

The Board of Supervisors will consider today an almost three-year agreement, paying $350,000 a year to market the county through billboards and other signs around the racetrack, which hosts two nationally televised NASCAR races each year.

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Southern California — this just in

January 25, 2010 | 1:46 pm

The California Supreme Court today threw out criminal charges filed by the San Diego County district attorney against five former members of the city retirement board stemming from the city’s pension controversy.

The court, however, allowed conflict-of-interest charges to remain against the firefighters union president because of his alleged role in tailoring a pension boost for himself in 2002.

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By Les Christie, staff writer , On Tuesday January 26, 2010, 9:33 am

Home prices fell in November for the first time in seven months, according to a industry report released Tuesday.

The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index recorded a decline of 0.2% from October. Prices were down 5.3% compared with 12 months ago.

The loss was unexpectedly large. Experts had forecast that prices would be off by only 5% compared with last November, according to Briefing.com. The lone good news is that the rates of year-over-year declines have continued to shrink.

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January 26, 2010 | Lance Williams

Last week, retired eBay CEO Meg Whitman put $20 million of her own money into her quest for the Republican nomination for governor. Her campaign manager, Jill Hasner, quickly noted that contributors other than Whitman had already pitched in $10.2 million to the campaign, demonstrating “overwhelming donor support from Californians.”

Who gives money to a candidate with such deep pockets?

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BY CHRISTINE BEDELL, Californian staff writer
cbedell@bakersfield.com | Monday, Jan 25 2010 07:20 PM

Last Updated Monday, Jan 25 2010 07:20 PM

State Sen. Roy Ashburn, after virtually an entire adulthood in government and politics, said Monday he’s bowing out of public life — at least for now.

Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, told The Californian he’s dropping his bid for the state Board of Equalization and will not run for Democrat Jim Costa’s congressional seat. He’d been thinking about the latter but not made any firm decisions.

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Arnold Schwarzenegger, with 11 months remaining in his star-crossed governorship, says it’s “a little bit too early to reflect” on his legacy – but California voters appear to be rendering their verdict already, and it’s not a positive one.

Schwarzenegger once enjoyed some of the highest approval ratings ever recorded for a California governor – 65 percent during his first months – but the latest Field Research poll, released on Sunday, found that just 27 percent of registered voters approve of his performance, and 59 percent say he’ll leave state government in worse condition than he found it.

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Meg Whitman

Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

Monday, January 25, 2010

“I really hate waste,” writes Whitman, who is estimated to have spent more than $300,000 on polls and untold millions on political consultants in the year since the start of her drive for California’s top post. In her book, “The Power of Many: Values for Success in Business and in Life,” which hits bookstores this Tuesday, she boasts she comes from a family so thrifty that they reused aluminum foil and tea bags and repaired holes in socks.

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Move will save $750,000 in three years
January 25, 2010 5:34 PM
BROOKE EDWARDS Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE • The city is returning 43 vehicles it’s been leasing for employees, as another cost-saving measure to get through its current financial crisis.

The move will save $250,00 a year, city spokeswoman Yvonne Hester said, for a total savings of $750,000 over the next three years.

The vehicles were all leased from Sunland Ford Lincoln Mercury for five years starting April 1, 2008, in effort to replace aging, less fuel-efficient models with newer ones.

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Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/25/2010 05:35:27 PM PST

BARSTOW – The District Attorney’s Office is deciding whether to charge Mayor Joe Gomez with sexually battering a police officer’s wife after a Christmas party.

The victim, who has not been identified, reported the alleged assault Dec. 18 to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department because the crime took place in an unincorporated area of Barstow.

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Staff and Wire Reports
Posted: 01/25/2010 09:30:48 PM PST

Under a state law that took effect Monday, California has started to reduce its prison population by about 6,500 inmates over the next year.

The bill was signed as part of last year’s state budget package. Under it, early-release credits for inmates who complete educational and vocational programs will be expanded, letting more inmates leave prison earlier.

At the same time, the state will stop its monitoring of low-level offenders after their release. That is designed to reduce the number of parolees returned to prison, essentially because the state will not know if they are violating the terms of their parole.

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10:00 PM PST on Monday, January 25, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

Ed Rose has been a member of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for 21 years — the last nine as an investigator.

He wants to stay with the department, but he has no desire to enter management. In the past, that would have left him few options — short of leaving for other agencies — to advance his career and earn more money.

Now things have changed.

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Several months ago a story exposing substantial political contributions to District Attorney Michael Ramos by two attorneys who control the San Bernardino County criminal defense conflict panel was published at www.iepolitics.com.

Now, more revelations are coming forward that may give a plausible explanation for $73,000 in political contributions given to Ramos from 01/01/2004 through 06/30/2009.

Sources who have had business dealings with the conflict panel tell of financial difficulties within the group plagued by late payments to employees and contractors. The issues have resulted in threats of going to state labor officials. It is being asserted that the funds from county conflict assignments now subsidize the private practice operations of the law firms involved.

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The summary of conclusions from a high dollar sexual harassment investigation about Mike Ramos makes one point that was overlooked by the main stream media. It confirmed that Ramos did in fact have an affair of long duration with one of his subordinates. Although, Ramos has repeatedly denied that any such affair took place, the investigation has proved otherwise.

This affair is one of over a dozen that were revealed in an Article published in the Sentinel Newspaper and subsequently augmented by others in blog postings. To date not a single allegation has been unfounded. Assuming that the numerous affairs are true, then what can you conclude about the District Attorney of San Bernardino County? Is he a sex addict? It would certainly appear so. It would also appear that he is not only a serial adulterer but a serial liar as well.

Let’s examine the issues.

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Home sales plunge nearly 17 percent in December after tax credit deadline extended

Alan Zibel, AP Real Estate Writer, On Monday January 25, 2010, 10:40 am EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of previously occupied homes took the largest monthly drop in more than 40 years last month, sinking more dramatically than expected after lawmakers gave buyers additional time to use a tax credit.

The report reflects a sharp drop in demand after buyers stopped scrambling to qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homeowners. It had been due to expire on Nov. 30. But Congress extended the deadline until April 30 and expanded it with a new $6,500 credit for existing homeowners who move.

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Legislative leaders know they have to act, but they can’t agree on what to do.

CAPITOL JOURNAL

By George Skelton Capitol Journal

January 25, 2010

From Sacramento

Legislators — the leaders, anyway — know they must change the way they operate. The sooner the better. But they still can’t agree on exactly how.

The problems are clear: Bleeding, gimmicky budgets that lead to more deficit spending. Incessantly late budgets that cripple the state’s credit. Lack of prioritizing or long-range planning. Trivial pursuits. Petty partisanship.

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His proposals to privatize prisons, curtail teachers’ seniority protections and reduce the number of in-home care workers would be major blows to powerful labor interests. They’re girding for a fight.

By Shane Goldmacher

January 25, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has put organized labor squarely in his cross-hairs in 2010, opening a fight that will largely determine the shape of his final year in office.

Schwarzenegger’s proposals would cut the size of the union workforce, reduce pay, shrink future pensions and roll back job protections won through collective bargaining.

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Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/24/2010 08:29:55 PM PST

COLTON – With four of the seven seats on the City Council up for grabs, the Nov. 2 election could change the face of city leadership.

Mayor Kelly Chastain and council members Richard DeLaRosa, Susan Oliva and David Toro are all up for re-election.

With the past 12 months being some of the most tumultuous in recent memory, some say challengers will have a good shot at defeating incumbents.

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11:22 PM PST on Sunday, January 24, 2010

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

Job-approval ratings for the governor and Legislature continue to hover near record lows as voters see no end in sight to the state’s economic woes, a new poll shows.

Only 27 percent of registered voters approve of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s job performance and nearly two-thirds disapprove, according to a Field Poll released today. Those numbers are virtually unchanged from October.

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On Monday January 25, 2010, 9:47 am EST

By Nicole Maestri

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Sam’s Club, the warehouse club division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc is cutting roughly 11,200 jobs, or about 10 percent of its workforce, as it outsources in-store product demonstrations and eliminates positions used to recruit new business members.

Sam’s Club Chief Executive Officer Brian Cornell said on Sunday that the retailer would outline charges associated with the job cuts in February, when it releases fourth-quarter results. He said he did not expect any “material impact” on its financial results.

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Most of these voters want bipartisanship and centrism, not populism. Will Obama and fellow Democrats listen?

By Doyle McManus

January 24, 2010

Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008 by assembling a broad coalition of Democrats and independents, but since the summer, independents have been deserting Obama’s cause, and not only in Massachusetts.

That’s what has White House strategists and Democrats in Congress most worried about this fall’s elections: Independents, the country’s most fickle voters, are in the driver’s seat. They’re unhappy about the economy, worried about the potential costs of the Democrats’ healthcare bills and disappointed that Obama’s promises of bipartisanship didn’t come true.

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10:00 PM PST on Sunday, January 24, 2010

By LESLIE PARRILLA
The Press-Enterprise

Norco city officials have gained momentum on two significant issues that have drawn strong words from residents.

The City Council voted last week to begin negotiating the purchase of 429 acres of property on Hillside Avenue, land that was contaminated by the former Wyle Laboratories.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/23/2010 09:37:01 PM PST

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating five Inland Empire lawmakers for allegedly failing to report hundreds of dollars worth of gifts in 2008.

The five are among 38 state lawmakers who are being investigated for allegedly failing to report gifts and other perks including meals, beverages, parking tabs and tickets to sporting venues and theme parks valued at more than $8,000.

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Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/23/2010 07:05:05 PM PST

RIALTO – At a time when local governments are looking to cut spending every way they can, this city is preparing to spend up to $5 million a year on upgraded pension packages for police, firefighters and other employees.

Budget plans for the 2010-11 fiscal year will have to account for the new “3 at 50″ pension plan, which allows firefighters and police officers with 30 years of service to retire as early as age 50 and collect up to 90 percent of their highest annual salaries for the rest of their lives.

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When justices ruled to strike down laws limiting corporate political spending, they signaled a tough road ahead for Democrats’ regulatory measures.

By David G. Savage

January 24, 2010

Reporting from Washington – Five years ago, when John G. Roberts Jr. became the Supreme Court’s chief justice, he described the job as though he would be a minor functionary, more like an umpire behind the plate than the star of the game. He also said he favored minimal and narrow decisions, rather than broad but divisive rulings that would abruptly change the law.

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By Ken McLaughlin and Denis C. Theriault

Mercury News
Posted: 01/24/2010 12:00:00 AM PST
Updated: 01/24/2010 03:41:48 AM PST

At first blush, the political DNA of Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner looks pretty darn similar.

Both are Republicans who got extremely rich in Silicon Valley. Both are social moderates — in favor of abortion rights, in favor of giving gay couples all the rights of married people through civil unions — with some history of cutting checks to Democrats. Both are unabashedly pro-business.

Then why are these two candidates for California governor about to begin slicing and dicing each other up for all the world to see?

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Companies pressing an agenda in Sacramento, including oil and tobacco firms, funneled $120,000 to a group that covered much of the three-day event at a luxury resort in Santa Barbara.

By Patrick McGreevy

January 24, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento – When Republican state legislators decided last month that they needed to escape Sacramento and kick back in a more relaxed environment to hash out issues, they headed for a luxury beach resort in Santa Barbara.

Such sojourns don’t come cheap, so oil and tobacco firms and other companies that are pressing an agenda in the Capitol funneled $120,000 to a group that picked up much of the tab. About 25 Republican senators and Assembly members and a dozen aides attended the retreat at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort.

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By Dan Morain, Senior editor
dmorain@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1E

Attorney General Jerry Brown casts himself as a no-nonsense prosecutor. But when it comes to asserting state oversight of casinos owned by Indian tribes, he’s been less than aggressive.

Tribes that own the state’s most lucrative casinos are betting early that Brown will be the next governor. Based on his actions as attorney general, those casino owners will have a friend in the most important corner office in California.

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Attorney General Jerry Brown

By Steven Harmon
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 01/23/2010 03:14:20 PM PST
Updated: 01/23/2010 03:14:20 PM PST

SACRAMENTO —Jerry Brown appears to be gearing up for a populist campaign as he anticipates a run against a wealthy Republican.

The attorney general will have a sizable target whether it’s Meg Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay, or state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who entered politics after making a fortune as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

59% IN POLL SAY SITUATION’S WORSE

By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

This was hardly what Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger envisioned seven years ago.

The movie-star governor, who took office in 2003 on a promise to “clean house” in Sacramento, remains mired at a personal-low 27 percent approval rating, according to a Field Poll released today.

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11:17 PM PST on Saturday, January 23, 2010

By ALICIA ROBINSON
The Press-Enterprise

While Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge accentuated the positive in his State of the City speech Thursday, some residents said Friday they see some negatives they want city officials to address.

In his speech, Loveridge acknowledged the recession’s toll on Riverside — namely high unemployment and a dwindling city budget — but he also pointed to recent projects such as the renovation of the Fox theater, and new initiatives like an economic plan to attract green jobs, boost the arts and improve neighborhoods.

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Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 01/23/2010 06:07:17 AM PST

UPLAND – The Upland Unified School District is now looking to cut $15 million over the next two years should Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s current budget proposal stick.

The figure is an increase of $2.6 million from last week when school officials estimated that the projected cuts would be about $12.4 million.

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The California Secretary of State has published the list of debtors who owe a combined total of $888,730 in various penalties for failing to timely file campaign finance related documents. The fines go into the state’s general fund, and the state wants the money.

Final notices are being issued.

Nearly one-eighth or $104,000 is owed by the Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee.

Click here to see the entire list.

However, some local names showed up.

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Published January 22, 1010

There has been a significant change in the manner in which the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office is handling suspected or alleged violations of the state’s income disclosure requirements.

Within the last month, San Bernardino County prosecutors have opted to refer such cases to the California Fair Political Practices Commission, a departure from the office’s past approach of filing criminal charges against those who have made no or inadequate disclosure of outside income.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/22/2010 06:06:55 PM PST

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is expected to meet in closed session Tuesday to discuss the public release of an investigative report into alleged sexual harassment by District Attorney Michael A. Ramos.

The investigation kicked off in August after Cheryl Ristow, an investigative technician at the District Attorney’s Office, filed a formal complaint with the human resources department alleging sexual harassment and workplace retaliation after an article mentioning the alleged affair between Ramos and Ristow appeared in a local newspaper.

Read the rest of this entry »

Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/22/2010 03:53:23 PM PST

COLTON – An audit the City Council approved in August 2007 for $65,000 has council members split on what benefit it provided the city.

The results of the audit have never officially been presented to the council or made public. Some council members say the money was wasted and produced nothing of value while others argue work that was completed did have worth.

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Supervisor Paul Biane

10:00 PM PST on Friday, January 22, 2010

Cassie MacDuff

No one needed a reminder of the cozy relationship between a San Bernardino County supervisor and developers who got $102 million from the county.

But one came belatedly this week with the revelation that Supervisor Paul Biane took a September 2008 junket to West Virginia with Colonies Partners’ Dan Richards and Ray Crebs.

Biane voted in favor of the $102 million Colonies settlement in 2006. The payout is under investigation.

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Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 01/22/2010 04:53:51 PM PST

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Issues concerning the budget, the upcoming elections and Councilman Rex Gutierrez were all on the table during an eight-hour meeting at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center on Thursday that was meant to build City Council consensus and set goals for 2010.

Nearly every discussion of city matters was tinted by the cloud of budget cuts.

The City Council directed Community Services Director Kevin McArdle to cut two popular events – the July 4 fireworks night at the Epicenter and the volunteer appreciation dinner.

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Construction and related industries take a big hit in 2009. Payrolls shrink again in December, though the unemployment rate stays at 12.4%.

By Alana Semuels

January 23, 2010

California employers cut more workers in December, capping a dismal year in which the state lost more than half a million jobs.

Payrolls shrank by 38,800, marking the worst month for job losses since September. The unemployment rate remained flat at 12.4%, but only because more than 100,000 workers left the labor force and are no longer counted. Many of them have given up looking for work or have moved out of state.

Economists expect the state’s labor market to remain weak this year largely because the bellwether housing sector continues to struggle. Over the last two years, California has lost more than 1 million jobs.

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Rep. Joe Baca

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/22/2010 06:52:51 PM PST

The best golfer in Congress? Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, says he holds that title.

A recent profile of Baca in The Green golf magazine identifies him as such, and Baca doesn’t try to shrug of the honor.

“Let’s just say I’ve beaten everybody,” Baca said Friday.

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By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 10A
Last Modified: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 – 12:40 am

Layoffs returned in earnest to California last month, and a depressingly lonely holiday season for retailers and restaurants was a key reason why. California lost 38,800 jobs in December, a month that saw precious little hiring by shopkeepers and layoffs by restaurants.

The statewide unemployment rate held steady at 12.4 percent, the Employment Development Department reported Friday. Analysts said the rate would have risen except thousands of Californians dropped out of the job market, which means they weren’t counted among the unemployed.

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By Denis C. Theriault

dtheriault@mercurynews.com
Posted: 01/22/2010 05:13:27 PM PST
Updated: 01/22/2010 09:12:00 PM PST

SACRAMENTO — State Controller John Chiang issued a stern warning Friday about California’s cash reserves, telling legislative leaders and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger they must act on nearly $9 billion in budget cuts the governor is seeking by March — or the state will run out of cash to pay its bills.

Without making those cuts — which Chiang says will pump $1.3 billion into the state’s checking account — California would be broke by April 1, no fooling.

The state wouldn’t climb back to what’s considered a safe level of cash on hand, $2.5 billion, until later that month, when tax revenues are expected to begin flowing into Sacramento.

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By Torey Van Oot
tvanoot@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 10A

Campaign finance violators who missed financial disclosure deadlines have racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in late fines – money that would go to the state’s cash-strapped general fund.

Hundreds of donors and campaign committees had failed to pay a total of $888,730 in late fines as of mid-November, according to records obtained by The Bee from the secretary of state’s office.

Read the rest of this entry »

James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/22/2010 05:42:06 PM PST

Most Californians live in the Southern half of the state. Fewer than half of Californians are white. Almost exactly half are women.

But those facts aren’t represented by the people who have applied to the state’s 2011 redistricting commission. Most applicants are white men and a disproportionate number live near the state capital.

That’s spurred lawmakers, interest groups and community organizations to encourage their members and constituents to apply.

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Posted by Administrator3 at 21 January 2010

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

As more statements from those involved appear in local newspapers, and other information is gathered related to the travel activity of County Supervisor Paul Biane and incoming County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux, it is becoming very apparent that both men are on opposite sides of the coin.

In 2008, both men accompanied local businessmen to West Viriginia for a football and golf outing.

However, their stories in local newspapers diverge from here out.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Courtney Schlisserman

Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) — Employment dropped in 39 U.S. states in December, seven more than in the prior month, indicating job losses were widespread.

Payrolls in California showed the biggest decline, falling by 38,800 last month, according to figures issued today by the Labor Department in Washington. Texas followed with a 23,900 decline and Ohio was next with a 16,700 drop.

With the national unemployment rate projected to average 10 percent this year, state budgets may continue to be strained by limited tax revenue and jobless insurance payments. While the pace of firings has eased over the last year, the time it is taking to find a job rose to a record 29.1 weeks in December.

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Meg Whitman

06:26 AM PST on Friday, January 22, 2010

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO – Former eBay chief Meg Whitman has increased her lead in the Republican race for governor while narrowing the gap with Attorney General Jerry Brown, the Democrats’ would-be contender, a new survey shows.

Whitman is backed by 45 percent of likely voters in the June GOP primary, up from 22 percent in October. Her rival, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, has 17 percent support, up from 9 percent in October. Both candidates gained from the departure of former Rep. Tom Campbell, who abandoned his gubernatorial candidacy to run for U.S. Senate.

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Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/21/2010 06:01:12 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – It may not be the most ringing of endorsements, but the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce is pretty much in favor with the prospect of a new downtown civic center.

The Chamber’s board voted Thursday to adopt a resolution supporting a new County Government Center in downtown San Bernardino. Some city and county officials – including San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris – want to build a new government complex on property currently used by Carousel Mall, but that idea has not gained universal support.

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Sen. Barbara Boxer’s reelection campaign will largely be the testing ground for the new rules in California.

By Shane Goldmacher

January 22, 2010

Reporting from Sacramento – The U.S. Supreme Court’s sweeping ruling Thursday to allow corporate spending in federal political campaigns could shift the playing field in Sen. Barbara Boxer’s reelection effort, congressional races across California and some municipal elections, notably in Los Angeles and San Diego.

The decision removes prohibitions on corporations and unions from spending their money to influence federal elections.

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JUSTICES RULE 2003 LAW WAS WRONG TO RESTRICT STASHES

By Peter Hecht
phecht@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 – 7:10 am

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state cannot impose legal limits on the amount of pot that medical marijuana users can grow or possess.

In a ruling certain to exacerbate debate over the governance of medical marijuana in California, the court threw out legislation that limited medical pot users to 8 ounces of dried marijuana and six mature or 12 immature marijuana plants.

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By Denis C. Theriault

dtheriault@mercurynews.com
Posted: 01/21/2010 06:24:02 PM PST
Updated: 01/21/2010 10:15:41 PM PST

SACRAMENTO — More than four months before California Republicans choose their next gubernatorial nominee, Meg Whitman has apparently broken the state’s unofficial record for self-contributions.

With her latest $20 million gift, reported this week, the billionaire former CEO of eBay has contributed $39 million to her campaign to date.

That puts her ahead of airline mogul Al Checchi, who spent almost as much of his own money in a failed bid for the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1998.

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10:00 PM PST on Thursday, January 21, 2010

By BEN GOAD
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON – After repeatedly criticizing California’s congressional delegation for failing to procure more funding for the cash-strapped state, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger played a different role this week when he met with the same federal lawmakers in Washington.

It was a kinder, gentler Schwarzenegger who spent the last two days making his pitch to federal officials for an additional $6.9 billion in federal money to help close the state’s $20 billion budget gap.

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10:00 PM PST on Thursday, January 21, 2010

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO – Last spring, some Republican lawmakers were jeered when they spoke to a large Tea Party rally at the state Capitol.

And conservative Assemblyman Chuck Devore, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, recently touted himself as the only lawmaker allowed to speak at Tea Party events.

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10:00 PM PST on Thursday, January 21, 2010

By MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
The Press-Enterprise

To bridge a nearly $20 million budget shortfall, the Lake Elsinore Unified School District will need significant concessions from its unions or be forced to lay off hundreds of people and close several schools, the school board was told Thursday.

“In the 20 years I’ve been privileged to serve on this board, this is the most difficult budget year I have ever seen,” board member Jeanie Corral said.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

San Bernardino County needs to make public a report on an investigation into District Attorney Mike Ramos’ behavior. No county – particularly one with a history of high-level scandal – should tolerate secrecy about official conduct. And total openness the best way to avoid clouding an ongoing county corruption probe in irrelevant distractions.

One of Ramos’ employees last summer accused him of harassment and retaliation, and the county hired an outside law firm to vet the allegations.  The county last week received the results of the investigation, which began in August.  But officials released only a three-page summary of the 186-page document, saying the prob e cleared Ramos of misconduct.  The county is still weighing whether to release the full report.

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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 the 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 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.

The choice of the law firm was Lamberto’s decision.

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Supervisor Paul Biane

Devereaux, Biane eyed for possible disclosure violations

BY NATASHA LINDSTROM
STAFF WRITER

SAN BERNARDINO • The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office has asked the state campaign watchdog to examine possible reporting violations over gifts received by newly-hired CountyAdministrative Officer Greg Devereaux and 2nd District Supervisor Paul Biane.

Devereaux and Biane may have failed to properly report on their campaign disclosure forms of a cross-country flight on a private jet to Virginia more than a year ago.

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The administrators and blogpen at InlandPolitics.com would like to thank you our readers.

InlandPolitics.com broke the 25,000 hits per day threshold yesterday and the daily viewership has been building rapidly since the site was submitted to Google, Yahoo, and MSN search engines a month ago.

Once again, thank you.

10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Cassie MacDuff

Considering how long it took to merge the San Bernardino County sheriff’s and coroner’s offices, it was amazing to see how seamlessly the merger of the auditor/controller and treasurer/tax collector slid through last week.

The sheriff-coroner merger was recommended in 1996 by the grand jury. A blue ribbon panel studied the plan in 2001. But it wasn’t until a fifth grand jury report criticized the coroner in 2004 that the merger finally took place.

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Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/20/2010 09:26:56 PM PST

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – The city is looking for ways to cut its budget deficit by a third as a response to sales-tax and other revenue shortfalls.

During a midyear budget review on Tuesday, the City Council directed City Manager Jack Lam to look for ways to trim the budget by about $1.2 million without affecting services.

City staff members are expected to present money-saving measures that are available in 30 days.

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Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/20/2010 04:21:51 PM PST

COLTON – A “paper trail” that will serve as a reference for lobbyists who advocate for the city’s interests at the state and federal level has been approved by the City Council.

The Legislative Year 2010 Program states the city’s general position on legislation that affects the city or region as it works its way through Washington or Sacramento and also lists specific projects that are city goals.

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Supervisor Neil Derry

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/20/2010 03:13:20 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – Third District Supervisor Neil Derry said Wednesday his office will pay the $6,600 cost of challenging a government panel’s power to merge six county islands into the city.

The basis of the challenge is whether the Local Agency Formation Commission for San Bernardino County, also known as Lafco, correctly followed state laws that allow cities to annex unincorporated territory without a popular vote.

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January 20, 2010 | 4:37 pm

At least 26 state legislators have admitted they failed to report accepting gifts from lobbying groups and will pay fines for violating financial reporting laws.

The fines are the first penalties revealed as part of an investigation by the state’s political watchdog agency into suspicions that 38 state lawmakers – including Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) — and 15 staff members failed to disclose gifts. The gifts included sports and concert tickets, meals, spa treatments and hotel rooms; those who gave included a casino, horse-racing track, union, bank and various other interest groups.

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Meg Whitman

January 20, 2010 | 9:00 pm

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman’s campaign spent nearly $19 million in 2009, according to figures provided by her advisers. The former EBay chief executive donated an additional $20 million this week to her gubernatorial effort — bringing her personal contributions thus far to $39 million.

With the new $20-million infusion, Whitman will have $30.5 million in her gubernatorial bank account, according to a campaign statement. Whitman has said she is willing to spend more than $100 million of her own money in her quest for the governorship.

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January 20, 2010 | 9:56 am

An ethics probe into state lawmakers suspected of not reporting gifts they received from lobbying groups has implicated much of the leadership of the Legislature, records show.

Those who have been questioned in writing by the state Fair Political Practices Commission about gifts they received include Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), state Senate Republican leader Dennis Hollingsworth of Murrieta, Senate Republican leader-elect Bob Dutton of Rancho Cucamonga and Assemblyman Martin Garrick of Solano Beach, who was elected this week to become the next Assembly Republican leader.

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By Bob Willis

Jan. 21 (Bloomberg) — More Americans than anticipated filed claims for unemployment benefits last week, reflecting a backlog of applications from the year-end holidays.

Initial jobless claims rose by 36,000 to 482,000 in the week ended Jan. 16, the highest level in two months, from 446,000 the prior week, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The jump was due to an “administrative” accumulation from late December and early January holidays, and did not reflect “economic” reasons, a Labor Department spokesman said.

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