Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Posted By: Joe Garofoli (Email, Twitter) | April 30 2010 at 11:01 AM
No surprise there. We talked about Poizner’s, ahem, evolution, from liberal Assembly candidate in 2004 to hardline conservative in 2010 earlier in a dead tree edition story.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 30, 2010
GOP guv-hopeful Steve Poizner launched a new TV spot today attacking rival Meg Whitman’s connections to Goldman Sachs.
Whitman’s ties to the investment firm, which colleague Jon Ortiz delves into here, have become an issue in the gubernatorial race as the firm comes under more heat for its role in the financial crisis, including a reported criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
April 30, 2010 | 12:18 pm
First there were the Nixon tapes. Now, thanks to Meg Whitman’s campaign, we have the Poizner tapes.
Or will have them, come Monday. In a breathless announcement this morning, Whitman, the ex-EBay chief running for the Republican nomination for governor, challenged Poizner to release debate clips from his failed 2004 Assembly run that show him taking moderate positions (or liberal – it’s a matter of perspective). If he doesn’t, her campaign says it will release the “tapes” here (note the countdown) Monday morning.
This morning a San Bernardino County Superior Court Pre-Trial conference in the case involving Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman Rex Gutierrez was continued until May 25th.
This mornings hearing was to cover the topic of witnesses to testify and the scope of that testimony.
The discussion, when it occurs is sure to prove interesting, especially the witness list for the defense.
The San Bernardino County Public Defender was replaced and outside counsel was appointed for former Assessor Bill Postmus this morning during a hearing in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Judge Michael Dest barked at Postmus when Postmus attempted to inform the court he didn’t want to be represented by the conflict panel. Dest told Postmus something to the affect of if you don’t like it you can pay for your own attorney.
Written by Administrator
April 29th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
For anyone who has utilized the services of San Bernardino County’s hospital and is not an Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) VIP, it comes as no surprise that ARMC’s billing system is a mess.
Those who handle the billing are spread throughout the medical center and no one talks to one another. As a matter of fact, turf wars exist that sometimes result in billing being months, and yes, even years behind. It is yet one more area of ARMC that its medical director, Dr. Dev Gnanadev, has micromanaged into disarray.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, April 29, 2010
San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux announced several management changes Thursday, including the hiring of two administrators who worked under him in Ontario.
Mary Jane Olhasso was appointed Economic Development Agency administrator, a week after Mark Dowling, who had been in the position for two years, resigned suddenly. Olhasso held similar duties in Ontario, where Devereaux was the longtime city manager until he took the county job in February.
11:19 PM PDT on Thursday, April 29, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
Fontana city officials are accusing San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane of sending out a misleading campaign mailer that attacks Councilwoman Janice Rutherford, one of his opponents in the June 8 election.
The mailer criticizes Rutherford, saying she is a “big spender” who went on a “reckless shopping spree with your $$$!” It features Rutherford’s photo on a likeness of the Energizer Bunny but with “spending” written across the drum.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, April 29, 2010
By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside County district attorney candidate Paul Zellerbach criticized incumbent Rod Pacheco’s management of his office’s budget and its criminal case filing policies, saying both are excessive and costly to taxpayers.
The accusations from Zellerbach came at a campaign forum that had invited both candidates. As with two previous forums offered by other groups, Pacheco did not reply to the invitation.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/29/2010 07:23:29 PM PDT
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires the state reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, has San Bernardino County officials concerned about its impact on the region’s future economic growth.
Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors, at the urging of Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, unanimously voted to support the California Jobs Initiative, which calls for the suspension of the law, also known as AB 32, until the state’s unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent for four consecutive quarters.
By PE Politics
on April 29, 2010 2:32 PM
The state Fair Political Practices Commission today has started posting statements of economic interest on the agency’s website.
The statements, known as Form 700s, detail sources of income, real estate, gifts and other income. All elected officials must file the public documents every year and are a tool for the public to gauge potential conflicts of interest, the FPPC said in a statement.
Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/29/2010 02:33:00 PM PDT
San Bernardino City Unified School District officials are considering laying off more than 400 classified employees and teachers by the end of the school year.
The employee cuts, along with reducing the school year by five days and eliminating student programs, have all been proposed by the district to eliminate a $30 million budget shortfall for the 2010-11 school year.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/29/2010 05:49:57 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – City policymakers may ask voters to consider several taxes this year as City Hall managers struggle to solve a $24 million deficit.
New or increased levies could include a tax on property sales, higher hotel taxes, new warehouse and quarry taxes and a parcel tax to finance library and parks programs.
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/29/2010 04:58:09 PM PDT
GRAND TERRACE – The city managed to close a $423,000 budget gap this year, but more challenges lie ahead next year.
Officials anticipate an $800,000 shortfall in the General Fund for the 2010-2011 budget year starting July 1.
Liset Márquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/29/2010 09:03:17 PM PDT
Mary Jane Olhasso is leaving her job as Ontario’s economic development director to assume control of the San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency.
While in Ontario, Olhasso worked with city leaders to generate 4,000 new jobs and close to $135million in employee wages, officials said.
Published April 29th, 2010
Jack Flanigan, a veteran GOP political strategist, is among the informal network of advisers Attorney General Jerry Brown consults in his race for governor.
Flanigan said he has no formal role in Brown’s campaign, just offers advice when Brown seeks it.
Published: Friday, Apr. 30, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
April income tax revenue unlikely to ease state budget predicament
California’s bad budget juju is beginning to emerge again for lawmakers looking for ways to close an $18.6 billion hole.
With two days left in April, California needed $3.4 billion in income tax revenue to meet Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s projection for the month. Probably not going to happen, given that the most the state has received on any given day this month is $777 million on April 16, according to state Controller John Chiang’s online revenue tracker. The state through Wednesday had collected $6.8 billion in April, while Schwarzenegger’s January budget projected California would receive $10.2 billion.
They’ve exhausted 99 weeks of unemployment checks. Thousands are banding together to lobby Congress for another extension.
By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times
April 30, 2010
Karl Schafer says he has tried for hundreds of jobs since he was laid off from a truck factory more than two years ago. Still waiting to get hired, the 52-year-old Ohio man has suffered the indignity of applying for food stamps and asking his elderly mother for help.
Weary of her own job search, former customer service representative Wagma Omar, 40, of Mission Viejo is thinking about applying for a dangerous civilian job in Afghanistan.
By Duke Helfand, Times Staff Writer
April 30, 2010
California health insurer Anthem Blue Cross canceled rate hikes of as much as 39% for thousands of California policyholders Thursday after state regulators said the plan was “seriously flawed.”
The move came after a consultant to state regulators found that Anthem overstated future medical costs used to justify increases averaging 25% for many of the company’s 800,000 customers with individual policies. Correcting the flaws could drop the rate hikes to an average of 15%, the outside analyst said in a report.
Meg Whitman
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 29, 2010
The state’s biggest farm organization, the California Farm Bureau Federation, announced its unanimous endorsement this morning of Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.
Federation President Paul Wenger said in a statement released by the Whitman campaign, “Meg Whitman will curb regulations that are straining agriculture, update the state’s workplace laws to benefit both employees and employers, and address California’s water problems.”
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
April 29, 2010
With two days left in April, California needs $3.4 billion in income tax revenues to meet Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s projection for the month.
The most the state has received on any given day this month is $777 million on April 16, according to state Controller John Chiang’s online revenue tracker. The state so far has collected $6.8 billion in April, while Schwarzenegger’s January budget projected California would receive $10.2 billion.
Ramos
Written by Administrator
April 29th, 2010 at 10:46 am
As mentioned last week, I submitted a California Public Records Act request for a copy of any one of the tape recordings made when San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a loud party complaint in Mentone.
During that call a very drunk District Attorney Mike Ramos confronted deputies and told them to leave. He could have been arrested for Penal Code Section 647(f) or 148(a). However, he was not. At least one of the deputies recognized him.
A review of online court records shows the case against Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and Former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin slated for the courtroom of Assigned Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse for all purposes.
Rouse is already assigned to the case filed against Erwin more than a year ago.
Rouse is currently under challenge from Erwin due to his ties to the law firm of Gresham, Savage, Nolan and Tilden, where Rouse was a partner until 2004.
Sun / Daily Bulletin newspaper Editor Frank Pine put in some extra effort over the past few weeks.
He even inked an op-ed column on the subject.
Pine and his newspapers spent their time hammering away at the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors over their slowness to waiver “Attorney-Client Privilege” protecting documents and lawyers involving the $102 million Colonies Settlement from being accessed by state and county investigators.
Written by Administrator
April 28th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Friday shall prove to be interesting. Former San Bernardino County Assessor will be back in court regarding the appointment of the Public Defender’s Office to handle his defense.
There is a little bit of a problem with Doreen Boxer’s office handling the Postmus defense.
It’s really getting deep here.
While I’m glad to see the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors make available to prosecutors materials related to the Colonies settlement, the legal premise is kind of interesting.
I can’t seem to find any licensed practicing attorney that buys the restrictive limited waiver story.
The uniform response seems to be a waiver is a waiver.
In getting the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to approve their massive 11,350-home Villages of Lakeview project, did the Lewis Group of Companies hang the board out to dry?
This just might be the case.
Since the project’s approval Riverside County has been slammed by three separate lawsuits filed by the City of Riverside and a combination of four environmental groups over impacts of the project.
Paul Cook
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2010
By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO – Boards of local government appointees, such as Riverside County’s transportation agency, someday could eject members facing criminal charges under a bill approved Wednesday by a state Assembly committee.
The measure is designed to ensure that regional agencies comprised of local government officials won’t be tainted by a member’s trouble with the law and lose out on federal money.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2010
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians has elected a new tribal chairman, ending more than 30 years of leadership from former Chairman Robert Salgado.
The tribe elected Scott Cozart as its new chairman Friday. Salgado stepped down last year following a federal indictment on bribery charges. His trial is now scheduled to begin Oct. 15.
Williams
R.C. councilwoman gives nod to mayor of Redlands
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 04/28/2010 08:37:38 PM PDT
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Councilwoman Diane Williams has thrown her support behind Redlands Mayor Pat Gilbreath in the 63rd Assembly District race, an unexpected endorsement that leaves Mayor Don Kurth without the backing of his colleague.
Williams announced her endorsement at a meet-and-greet event on Tuesday at Etiwanda Gardens.
Poizner
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 04/28/2010 08:38:11 PM PDT
CHINO HILLS – Meg Whitman may have a better chance of getting the Republican nomination for governor, but that’s not stopping Steve Poizner from telling people why he’s the better candidate.
Poizner, the state’s insurance commissioner, outlined his plans at a luncheon sponsored by the nonpartisan Inland Empire Chamber Legislative Alliance at the McCoy Equestrian Center in Chino Hills on Wednesday.
Devereaux warned, Biane cleared in private-jet ethical probe
April 28, 2010 4:26 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
SAN BERNARDINO • Two top San Bernardino County officials investigated by the state campaign watchdog for possible ethical violations related to a cross-country trip on a private jet will not face any penalties.
The nonpartisan Fair Political Practices Commission has cleared 2nd District Supervisor Paul Biane of any violations and issued a warning to County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.
April 28, 2010 10:43 AM
Brooke Edwards
APPLE VALLEY • After less than two years on the job, Town Manager Frank Robinson is apparently looking for another position.
Robinson was announced as one of eight finalists to take over as president July 1 of the Center City Commission, an agency aimed at bolstering development in downtown Memphis, Tenn.
Paul Biane
Race for supervisor turns negative
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/28/2010 06:35:12 PM PDT
The campaign for San Bernardino County’s Second District supervisor seat became decidedly more contentious this week.
Incumbent Paul Biane went on the offensive in a campaign mailer, calling Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford – his chief challenger in June’s election – a “big spender” of public dollars.
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/28/2010 08:51:40 PM PDT
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Republicans running in the 63rd Assembly District race spoke about their widely diverse backgrounds and much less diverse political priorities and views Wednesday evening at a candidates’ forum.
Six of the seven Republicans running for the seat, which will be vacated later this year by termed-out Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Rancho Cucamonga, spoke about reining in state spending, lowering taxes, creating a more friendly business climate in California and reforming public education.
California Watch
A Project of the Center for Investigative Reporting
Money and Politics
April 29, 2010 | Lance Williams
Her ties to Goldman Sachs may have slowed her momentum, but GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is coming off an extraordinary successful quarter – at least when it comes to campaign finance.
In the three months ending April 26, Whitman raised an astonishing $43.38 million, state records show.
That’s an equally astonishing $480,000 per day.
Carly Firoina
Returns show that the GOP U.S. Senate candidate and her husband had joint income of more than $2.75 million that year.
April 29, 2010
Following the lead of her two Republican rivals, GOP Senate candidate Carly Fiorina released her 2008 tax return Wednesday showing that she and her husband had joint income of more than $2.75 million that year.
She and her husband paid $375,557 in state and local income taxes and $87,157 in real estate taxes in 2008. Fiorina has received an extension on her 2009 taxes and has not yet filed a return, campaign officials said.
The dispute over California public employee payouts is growing. Republicans blame Democrats, who see the problem but fear alienating labor.
By George Skelton Capitol Journal
April 29, 2010
No question: California public employee pensions are a big problem — especially for Democratic politicians.
Republicans pound them on the issue, claiming it’s emblematic of the majority party’s extravagant spending and subservience to patron labor unions.
April 28th, 2010, 12:54 pm · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
We told you that membership in California’s $100,000-plus public pension club leaped by 50 percent over the last year.
But this heavy load will grow exponentially heavier, and the big picture is even more disturbing than that.
To illustrate, we do a little number crunching with Marcia Fritz, the CPA who is president of the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility (and who regularly updates the $100,000 club database with numbers from the California Public Employees Retirement System — the largest such system in the nation).
The State Worker
Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers
April 28, 2010
The California Labor Federation is about to launch a worksite flier blitz aimed at cementing Meg Whitman’s ties to the finance industry and exploiting the recent fraud charges leveled at bank holding company Goldman Sachs.
As we point out in today’s story about the Whitman/Goldman connection, she left the firm’s board five years before the 2007 events at the center of SEC fraud charges highlighted by yesterday’s Senate hearing.
By PE Politics
on April 28, 2010 10:32 AM
Fontana Mayor Mark Nuaimi is slamming a re-election mailer sent out by San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane.
The mailer criticizes Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford, one of Biane’s opponents in the June 8 election, for being a “big spender” and for going on a “reckless shopping spree with your $$$!”
It features Rutherford’s photo on a likeness of the Energizer Bunny but with “spending” written across the drum.
Published April 27th, 2010
After subtracting refunds, income tax collections for April 27 were a net $521 million.
The Employment Development Department reported receiving $100 million in quarterly withholding payments.
The budget proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in January predicted income tax collections of $10.5 billion for April.
Greg Devereaux
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
A state watchdog agency issued San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux a warning letter while finding that Supervisor Paul Biane violated no ethics rules over a private jet trip both accepted from a Rancho Cucamonga developer.
Both men accompanied Ray Crebs, a member of Colonies Partners, on a private flight in September 2008 to West Virginia. Devereaux, who took over as county administrator this February, was Ontario city manager at the time.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County’s land use services department will see major structural changes in response to a dramatic decline in permit applications.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $12.8 million decrease to the agency’s budget as part of the county’s third-quarter financial review.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
By DAYNA STRAEHLEY and DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino schools have been operating under the federal government’s new transformation model for six years, even though they haven’t called it that, Superintendent Art Delgado said.
Federal and state laws require districts to choose one of four painful options by June 1 to fix 11 schools listed as persistently lowest-achieving: closing the school, converting it to a charter school, replacing the principal and at least half the staff, or replacing the principal and increasing instructional time, which the law calls the “transformation model.”
06:48 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Probe
Ending a standoff with state and local prosecutors, San Bernardino County supervisors agreed Tuesday to provide them with documents in the Colonies Partners legal settlement that is at the center of an extortion and bribery investigation.
The Board of Supervisors voted 3-0, with Supervisors Paul Biane and Gary Ovitt not participating, to a limited waiver of its legal privilege a week after prosecutors threatened to take the county to court.
Records show stake not reported
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/27/2010 08:52:26 PM PDT
Dan Richards, a co-managing partner of Rancho Cucamonga-based developer Colonies Partners LP, failed to report his interest in the company on state public-disclosure forms for 2007 and 2008, records show.
Richards, a commercial real estate broker appointed by the governor to the state Fish and Game Commission in February 2008, has been identified by state and local prosecutors as a co-conspirator in an alleged scheme to defraud San Bernardino County taxpayers by securing a $102 million legal settlement from the county in November 2006.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 04/27/2010 07:40:38 PM PDT
San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane and County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux responded Tuesday to findings from a state Fair Political Practices Commission investigation regarding a trip they took to West Virginia.
San Bernardino County prosecutors asked the FPPC on Jan. 11 to look into whether Devereaux and Biane properly reported the September 2008 trip on campaign finance and gift disclosure forms. The two flew on a private jet with Dan Richards, co-managing partner for Rancho Cucamonga-based developer Colonies Partners LP, and Ray Crebs, an investor in Colonies Partners.
The private jet the four flew on belongs to Crebs.
April 27, 2010 3:01 PM
Natasha Lindstrom
SAN BERNARDINO • A week after State Attorney General Jerry Brown threatened to sue the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, three board members on Tuesday agreed to waive some of their attorney-client privileges to assist a wide-ranging corruption investigation.
“The board voted to approve a limited and restricted waiver of the attorney-client privilege to the District Attorney and the Attorney General’s office relative to the earlier litigation that culminated in a settlement agreement in November of 2006 … in the Colonies settlement matter,” County Counsel Ruth Stringer reported when the board emerged from closed session shortly after 2 p.m. “This waiver is restricted and limited to the prosecutors under California law and will only be used by the prosecutors in the criminal investigation and any resulting prosecutions.”
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/27/2010 07:13:06 PM PDT
As part of a new quarterly budget reporting system implemented in March, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a reorganization of the land use services department that includes the elimination of 62 vacant positions due to a $6 million budget shortfall discovered last summer.
The reorganization also includes the addition of a new assistant administrator position and the reclassification of two deputy directors to building official and program manager.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/27/2010 08:49:27 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to allow state and local prosecutors to examine confidential information from its litigation with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP to facilitate a corruption probe.
Board members Josie Gonzales, Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry voted 3-0 in favor of a “limited and restricted waiver” of the supervisors’ attorney-client privilege, which will allow prosecutors to examine documents from the case file and interview attorneys retained by the county during the heated litigation.
Prosecutors first requested the waiver on March 12 and then threatened legal action last week after two meetings with County Counsel Ruth Stringer and two closed-session meetings of the Board of Supervisors failed to produce a resolution.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
April 27, 2010 | 4:12 pm
Chris Kelly, the former Facebook executive and current Democratic candidate for attorney general, announced depositing another $4 million of his own money into his campaign. The new infusion doubles Kelly’s total personal investment in the race to $8 million.
In recent weeks, Kelly’s campaign has taken a sharp tone in criticizing one of his primary opponents, San Francisco Dist. Atty. Kamala Harris. The new money means Kelly could take that message to the airwaves via TV ads or pay to have it land it in voter mailboxes. “Politicians shouldn’t be graded on a curve,” he said in a recent interview.
By Jon Ortiz
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2010 – 8:05 am
While Congress ripped into investment giant Goldman Sachs executives on Tuesday, the scandal threatened to tear the scab off a political wound in the California governor’s race.
Republican front-runner Meg Whitman tried again to put her prior relationship with the bank behind her, telling the Associated Press she regrets taking part in a now-banned stock sale practice involving the firm and that she left its board after 15 months because it “wasn’t a good fit.”
By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Members of Congress face the most anti-incumbent electorate since 1994, with less than a third of all voters saying they are inclined to support their representatives in November, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Dissatisfaction is widespread, crossing party lines, ideologies and virtually all groups of voters. Less than a quarter of independents and just three in 10 Republicans say they’re leaning toward backing an incumbent this fall. Even among Democrats, who control the House, the Senate and the White House, opinion is evenly divided on the question.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has issued a “No Violation” letter to San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane regarding a 2008 trip to West Virginia.
Biane accompanied then-Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux and Colonies Partners Dan Richards and Ray Crebs to attend a West Virginia Mountaineers football game.
Devereaux has since been appointed San Bernardino County Administrative Officer.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has issued a “warning” letter to San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux.
The warning letter is a result of a September 2008 trip to West Virginia with Supervisor Paul Biane and Colonies Partners Dan Richards and Ray Crebs.
Today, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in closed session voted to waive attorney-client privilege on litigation and discussions related to the settlement with Colonies Partners LP.
The waiver is restricted and limited to the criminal investigation into the settlement.
Supervisors Ovitt and Biane did not participate in the discussions on the matter.
The waiver was requested by the California Attorney General.
I was spending some time over the last few days giving some thought to former County Administrative Officer (CAO) Mark Uffer’s teaching job at California State University, San Bernardino and came up with some more appropriate courses I believe should be instituted at the school.
Uffer is currently assigned to teach PA 664 – Management of Public Organizations, a graduate level course.
Finally, someone has stood up to the Lewis Group of Companies and said enough is enough.
That someone is the State of California.
The State of California Department of General Services announced it has canceled an agreement with Lewis Companies and Shapell Homes to redevelop the now closed Fred C. Nelles Correctional Facility in Whittier.
The site is targeted to become a mixed-use development.
Tuesday morning the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will considering waiving its attorney-client privilege protecting communications related to the litigation and 2006 settlement of the lawsuit between the County Flood Control District and Colonies Partners, LP.
The $102 million settlement was to compensate for damages created by flood control actions resulting from the construction of the 210 freeway in Upland.
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) continues to be the subject of numerous investigations and inquiries. The hospital, once a shining star in our county, has lost its luster in wake of accusations of mismanagement, malpractice, patient abuse, and fraud. Much of the controversy involves the empire-building by former County Administrative Office Mark Uffer and ARMC Medical Director Dr. Dev Gnanadev.
Both men are known for their tyrannical control of every aspect of hospital operations, with Gnanadev even running roughshod over the always-despotic Uffer.
07:41 AM PDT on Tuesday, April 27, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Former San Bernardino County assessor Bill Postmus and former assistant assessor Jim Erwin pleaded not guilty Monday to bribery and conspiracy charges.
Superior Court Judge Michael Dest entered the pleas on behalf of Postmus and Erwin, who are accused of taking part in a conspiracy that resulted in the Board of Supervisors approving a $102 million lawsuit settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners in November 2006.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/26/2010 05:22:15 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Former county Assessor Bill Postmus and his former assistant Jim Erwin were arraigned Monday on corruption charges in connection with an investigation by state and local prosecutors into the county’s $102 million Colonies lawsuit settlement in 2006.
Postmus and Erwin made a scheduled appearance before Judge Michael Dest in San Bernardino Superior Court, where the court entered not guilty pleas to all charges on behalf of the defendants, said Deputy District Attorney Lewis Cope, after the proceedings.
Time to streamline
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/26/2010 06:29:19 PM PDT
The elimination of 62 vacant positions and a reorganization of the land-use services department are among a slew of proposed changes that will be presented to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors today.
The proposed changes reflect a new quarterly budget reporting system for county departments, implemented on March 16. It is part of County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux’s push to streamline county operations and ensure more efficiency within the departments, county spokesman David Wert said.
Joe Baca
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/26/2010 07:06:12 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – On the day that Mexican President Felipe Calderon strongly condemned a new Arizona law cracking down on illegal immigration, a local Democratic congressman called for an economic boycott of the state.
Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, urged people to follow his lead and avoid traveling or spending their money in Arizona in protest of the state law that makes it a crime to be an illegal immigrant.
Former county supervisor appointed public defender
April 26, 2010 6:00 PM
Brooke Edwards
SAN BERNARDINO • Unable to afford his own attorney, former 1st District Supervisor Bill Postmus will attempt to fight multiple felony charges of bribery, embezzlement, drug abuse and more with the help of a court-appointed public defender.
“I have just gotten to the point of being totally broke due to the extensive legal battle with San Bernardino County,” Postmus said via e-mail, following the surprise announcement during his arraignment Monday morning.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, April 26, 2010
By ALICIA ROBINSON
The Press-Enterprise
In the upcoming fiscal year, Riverside officials expect to trim spending in 14 of 17 city departments and shrink the general fund by about $3 million compared with what was budgeted this year — and they plan to do it without layoffs or cutting city services.
The savings will come from attrition, delaying purchases, transferring salaries out of the general fund into special funds and other fiscal maneuvers, City Manager Brad Hudson said Monday.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, April 26, 2010
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise
The San Bernardino City Council resumes discussion tonight on how to plug a $24 million hole in its budget for the coming fiscal year that could widen to $188 million over the next five years.
“This will begin the most difficult discussion we will ever have,” Mayor Patrick Morris told the council at the start of last week’s budget study session.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
April 26, 2010 | 2:48 pm
State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) was confirmed by the California Senate on Monday as lieutenant governor, filling a vacancy created when John Garamendi was elected to Congress.
“We know he will bring the spirit of hard work and problem-solving to the lieutenant governor’s office,” said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) after the 25-7 vote.
PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State
April 26, 2010 | 10:39 am
MountPleasant If Steve Poizner didn’t like public radio before, this weekend’s thorough take-down of his book “Mount Pleasant” probably didn’t convert him into a fan.
Ira Glass, the host of “This American Life,” devoted much of his program to an in-depth analysis of Poizner’s tales about his semester at the East San Jose high school where he volunteered to teach a class. Glass had Poizner read whole passages from the book for the radio show, detailing worries about the safety of his Lexus and the “rotten-like trash” smells in the rough-and-tumble neighborhood surrounding the campus.
By JUDY LIN, Associated Press Writer
Monday, April 26, 2010
(04-26) 22:31 PDT Sacramento, Calif. (AP) —
California labor unions on Monday launched what they said would be an aggressive campaign against former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor.
California Labor Federation leader Art Pulaski said the unions will focus on exposing what he described as Whitman’s Wall Street agenda. The labor federation will be joined by unions representing teachers and nurses, among others.
Andrew Vanacore, AP Business Writer,
On Monday April 26, 2010, 1:19 pm EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Circulation continues to drop severely at U.S. newspapers, though the rate of decline slowed from the previous six-month reporting period.
Figures released Monday by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show average weekday circulation fell 8.7 percent in the six months that ended March 31, compared with the same period a year earlier. Sunday circulation fell 6.5 percent.
Written by Administrator
April 26th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos and the treasurer for his re-election committee have been notified by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) of the recently-filed complaint regarding their claim that there were a minimum of 127 credit card purchases under a $100 that did not have to be itemized on their Form 460. This means that the Commission did not reject the complaint outright but will be investigating it further.
Written by Administrator
April 26th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
It is expected that the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will discuss the California Attorney General’s request that the county waive its attorney-client privilege regarding the $102 million Colonies settlement in closed session during their April 27, 2010, regularly-scheduled meeting. Second District Supervisor Paul Biane and Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ovitt have both recused themselves. Third District Supervisor Neil Derry and Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales have suggested they will vote in favor of waiving privilege. Only Supervisor Mitzelfelt has not committed one way or another.
Written by Administrator
April 26th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin were arragined today in Department S23 of the San Bernardino district of the Superior Court of California where Judge Michael M. Dest entered pleas of “not guilty” for both defendants. In addition to Raj Maline, counsel for Erwin, and Steve Levine, counsel for Postmus, Steve Harmon was present as a new member of the defense team.
State picks another firm for 73-acre property
Mike Sprague, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/24/2010 08:18:35 PM PDT
WHITTIER – The development team of Lewis Operating Group of Upland and Shapell Homes of Beverly Hills have been dropped, and a new unnamed developer has been chosen by the state as its choice to purchase the now-closed Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility.
“We have terminated our relationship with the original developers and are moving forward,” said Jeffrey Young, spokesman for the state Department of General Services, on Wednesday.
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Press-Enterprise
If anyone can get a bill through a legislative committee, Capitol conventional wisdom holds, it’s the committee’s leader.
Tell that to Inland state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod.
Don Kurth
By PE Politics
on April 26, 2010 10:14 AM
The California Medical Association has formed an independent expenditure committee to help Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Don Kurth win the June primary election.
Kurth is one of seven Republican candidates for the Inland area’s 63rd Assembly District. And, yes, he is a doctor.
10:47 PM PDT on Sunday, April 25, 2010
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise
The city of Colton faces an uphill battle in November if it asks voters to extend a utility user tax in order to fill a $5 million hole in its budget for the coming year.
“I say no,” resident Linda Tripp told the City Council this week. “The citizens of Colton have been used and used and used … Rates are too high. Businesses are closing. People are losing their jobs.”
Developer purchases 71 acres
Liset Marquez, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/25/2010 09:36:40 PM PDT
ONTARIO – A Southern California developer and an East Coast investment firm have joined forces to buy a portion of the New Model Colony.
The venture will help the development clear its biggest barrier to getting construction started.
Written by Administrator
April 26th, 2010 at 5:20 am
There is quite a potential for bombshells dropping this week in a number of ongoing corruption-related issues.
On Monday, we have the arraignment of former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and former Chief of Staff Jim Erwin. It is expected that the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office will turn over discovery for the case. This may very well prove to be interesting. First, the rumor that the District Attorney may ask for a gag order would be funny if it didn’t keep popping its ugly head up. If true, it begs the question, “What is the District Attorney trying to hide?” Well, that has birthed a few more rumors, the most prevalent of which is that among the discovery will be information showing that Second Supervisorial District Chief of Staff Matt Brown dropped a dime on his boss, Supervisor Paul Biane. Rumors of Matt’s pending termination have been running rampant for a couple of weeks now.
California Watch
A Project of the Center for Investigative Reporting
Money and Politics
April 26, 2010 | Lance Williams
Political advisers to GOP front-runner Meg Whitman believe a candidate’s connection to the Goldman Sachs investment bank is a cause for concern – at least, if the candidate is Democrat Jerry Brown.
This weekend the LA Times began zeroing in on how the issue of Goldman Sachs, the New York investment bank that is a major player in public finance in California, will play out in the 2010 Governor’s race.
April 26, 2010
The Calbuzz Department of Prognostication and Power Tools has no formal opinion about the outcome of the fight between eMeg Whitman and Steve “The Commish” Poizner for the Republican nomination for governor.
But looking ahead, we just think it makes most sense to consider how Crusty the Attorney General Jerry Brown, a notorious skinflint, will try to frame the debate against eMeg’s unprecedented, $150 million Leviathan campaign.
By Ed Mendel
As if their rising cost to state and local governments weren’t trouble enough, public pensions also face legislation cracking down on pension boosting, improperly influenced investments and real estate schemes that displace the poor.
A whiff of anti-corruption cleanser, or the verbal equivalent, wafted through the Capitol this month. Bills moved to curb the “spiking” of final pay to boost pensions and regulate “placement agents” paid big fees for helping money managers get pension funds.
Ross Johnson, outgoing head of the state Fair Political Practices Commission, calls for sharper sanctions for libel in campaign ads and wants similar spending caps for candidates for statewide office.
By George Skelton Capitol Journal
April 25, 2010
Ross Johnson says if he were “king”— rather than merely the state’s lead campaign watchdog — he’d invoke the political death penalty for any candidates who libeled their opponents.
Yank them off the campaign trail. Or, if they’d already reached office, boot them out.
