Ramos

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/13/2010 04:46:01 PM PST

A nearly six-month investigation into alleged sexual harassment by District Attorney Michael A. Ramos is finished and the 200-page report was presented Wednesday to county counsel and human resources.

County spokesman David Wert said the report, which includes exhibits, is under review by county counsel and it won’t be until next week until a decision is made as to how the report will be presented to the Board of Supervisors, Ramos and the public.

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Sources indicate the long-awaited investigation report into allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and workplace retaliation, against San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos has now been delivered to county officials.

It is expected that a redacted version of the report will be approved for release by county supervisors. It is believed that the names of victims and those interviewed will be lined out to protect their identities.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Supervisors may consider expanding early retirement offers. It’s that or pink slips, the administrator says.

10:23 PM PST on Tuesday, January 12, 2010

By DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Hundreds of Riverside County workers could be laid off or offered early retirement within the next two years as officials struggle to close an estimated $71 million budget gap, county leaders said.

The county’s Board of Supervisors took the first step Tuesday by offering early retirement deals to 78 court employees. Human resources staff estimated only 33 would take the deal, but that would still save the county up to $2 million per year.

The county faces a cash shortfall that will require “massive layoffs in the next couple years,” whether they are through retirements or pink slips, said County Administrator Bill Luna.

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08:44 AM PST on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County supervisors appointed Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux as the new county administrative officer Tuesday, citing his track record in creating economic success.

Devereaux, who starts on Feb. 15, had been mentioned by supervisors as an early favorite during the two-month search for a new county administrator. Turns out he was the only candidate interviewed, said Board Chairman Gary Ovitt, who led the search and approached Devereaux about taking the job a few weeks ago.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/12/2010 07:24:36 PM PST

Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux was appointed the new San Bernardino County Administrative Officer on Tuesday following a closed-door meeting and interview with the Board of Supervisors.

As Ontario’s city manager of 12 years, Devereaux, 58, helped bolster the city’s economy, build its cash reserves and launch several successful redevelopment projects.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Ovitt called Devereaux “a man of tremendous credibility and talent” who is on the cutting edge of land use planning.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/12/2010 08:23:20 PM PST

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a merger of the Treasurer/Tax Collector and Auditor-Controller offices and the reorganization of other offices in an effort to save the county up to $1 million a year.

The plan will eliminate the elected position of Treasurer/Tax Collector and merge the functions of that office with the Auditor-Controller’s Office. It would also shift the Recorder and County Clerk offices from Auditor-Controller to Assessor, and the Public Administrator’s Office to Sheriff-Coroner.

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Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/12/2010 06:34:07 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – Wal-Mart executives are planning to expand the retailer’s store in northeastern San Bernardino, but an attorney with offices in Upland and San Diego has filed an appeal to block the project.

Wal-Mart is seeking to expand its store near the crossing of Highland and Boulder avenues. If the company completes its plans, the store would grow from its current size of about 130,000 square feet to more than 171,000 square feet.

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Ontario council reacts to Devereaux’s departure
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Created: 01/12/2010 06:50:11 PM PST

ONTARIO – Acting quickly, the City Council on Tuesday night agreed to name Fire Chief Chris Hughes as the new city manager.

Hughes will fill the vacancy left by Greg Devereaux who was appointed as San Bernardino County’s new county administrative officer earlier that day.

Hughes, 46, still has to work out his contract with the city. He is expected to start in his new position on Feb. 12, which is also Devereaux’s last day with the city.

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10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 12, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County supervisors approved the merger of the treasurer-tax collector and auditor/controller’s offices Tuesday, citing it as a cost-saving measure at a time when the county needs to tighten its belt.

The move eliminates the treasurer-tax collector as an independently-elected position, bringing those duties under the auditor/controller’s authority. As part of the swap, the auditor/controller will give up the clerk/recorder functions to the assessor’s office as both deal with property records.

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Ontario City Manager to fill county’s top post
January 12, 2010 1:09 PM
By NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • As Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux takes the helm of the county’s top post, 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said he foresees better relationships between the county and cities and expedited redevelopment in the High Desert.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously agreed to hire Devereaux as the new county administrative officer.

Devereaux will begin Feb. 13 and make $305,000 annually, which is $31,000 more than previous CAO Mark Uffer. Devereaux received an increase to match his salary as city manager of Ontario, said county spokesman David Wert.

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Move estimated to save $1 million annually
January 12, 2010 5:17 PM
NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • In hopes of saving $1 million annually and increasing efficiency, county supervisors on Tuesday combined two elected positions and consolidated several county offices.

The previously elected position Treasurer-Tax Collector will now be combined with the elected position Auditor-Controller, the Public Administrator’s duties will be assigned to the Sheriff-Coroner and the Recorder and County Clerk duties will now shift to the Assessor’s office.

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By Denny Walsh
dwalsh@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

The long-awaited final order to reduce California’s prison population was issued Tuesday by three federal judges who signed off on a revised plan submitted in November by the Schwarzenegger administration.

But the judges postponed the effective date of their order pending U.S. Supreme Court consideration of it and another order in August requiring formulation of the plan.

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By Jack Chang
jchang@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Campbell is widely expected to drop his bid for the state’s top office this week to run instead for the U.S. Senate.

Campbell had been scheduled to appear Thursday night at a governor candidates’ forum organized by the Republican Party of Los Angeles County but canceled, saying he would hold his own event Thursday morning at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Los Angeles International Airport, said Jane Barnett, the county party’s chairwoman.

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L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in

January 12, 2010 | 10:36 pm

[Update: Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby has handily won the race to succeed disgraced former Assemblyman Mike Duvall, according to final election returns. ]

Norby, 60, a Republican, had been heavily favored over Democrat John MacMurray, 63, and Green Party candidate Jane Rands, 43, in the 72nd Assembly District.

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By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

One dictionary defines “blue sky” as “idealistic or visionary and without practical application” or, alternatively, as “not worth very much money.”

There’s also a verb form of the phrase, meaning to peddle a worthless concept. It’s most often applied to con artists.

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled his last budget proposal last week, one that supposedly dealt with the state’s chronic deficits, it was evident that he was blue-skying it with fanciful and politically unrealistic notions that once again sidestepped the chronic imbalance between income and outgo.

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By STU WOO

California lawmakers and analysts are challenging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s days-old budget proposal, which relies on billions of dollars in emergency federal aid.

A report released Tuesday by the state’s nonpartisan legislative analyst said the Republican governor’s spending plan, which would close a $20 billion budget shortfall over 18 months, is built on risky assumptions — including agreement by Washington to rescue the state.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget plan has drawn criticism.

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Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/12/2010 06:23:58 PM PST

SACRAMENTO – History was made Tuesday after the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee passed a marijuana legalization and taxation bill in a 4-3 vote, with the headed to the health committee next.

Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, who voted no, described the bill after the vote “as the worst piece of legislation to come out of this committee so far.”

Hagman, committee vice chair, said the bill was “very detrimental” and “does not protect our child at all.”

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