By Mike Cruz
Created: 07/21/2010 04:07:19 PM PDT

A Superior Court judge has recalled an arrest warrant against former county taxpayer advocate Gregory Eyler, who missed a court appearance this morning because he had overslept, his lawyer said.

Eyler appeared about 3:10 p.m. in San Bernardino Superior Court, court personnel confirmed. Judge Michael Dest resumed Eyler’s bail bond and withdrew a $200,000 warrant for the defendant’s arrest, lawyer Stan Hodge said.

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By Mike Cruz
Posted: 07/21/2010 10:51:29 AM PDT

A Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for Gregory Eyler and ordered his bail bond forfeited this morning when the former county taxpayer advocate failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.

Eyler and former Assessor Bill Postmus were both scheduled to appear before Judge Michael Dest at 8:30 a.m. in San Bernardino Superior Court. Both are charged in a case stemming from the county’s investigation into alleged malfeasance in the Assessor’s Office.

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010 – 07:42 am

The other San Bernardino County budget shoe dropped yesterday in an op-ed by County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux published in The Sun / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspapers.

The last paragraph sends the key message:

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010 – 07:40 am

Here is an update in the ongoing investigation into alleged inappropriate sexual conduct between members of the Rialto Police Department and employees of the Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen’s Club.

Two more officers have been placed under investigation according to Police Chief Mark Kling.

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010 – 02:57 pm
Updated: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 – 06:07 pm
Last Update: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 – 08:02 pm

Well, well, well………Can you say ouch?

Matt Brown, now former chief of staff to Second District Supervisor Paul Biane is now being called Assistant Recorder. Even though county human resources classification database lists no such position title.

Brown would appear to be assuming the assistant department head position previously held by Elizabeth “Betsy” Starbuck, who was fired last Friday.

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Brown

It files a public records request with attorney general’s office seeking documents

By Steven Harmon
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 07/20/2010 04:04:27 PM PDT
Updated: 07/20/2010 07:12:30 PM PDT

SACRAMENTO — Meg Whitman’s campaign, suspicious that Jerry Brown is using his office as attorney general for campaign purposes, filed a Public Records Act request seeking documentation that they hope would prove it.

The request, filed late Monday with the attorney general’s office by Mark Bogetich, a Whitman campaign consultant, seeks what could amount to thousands of pages of employment information on communications staffers dating back to the 2005-06 fiscal year, before Brown was elected as attorney general.

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10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 20, 2010

By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

The San Bernardino City Council has armed the city manager with a new weapon in wage negotiations with the police officers union: the threat of furloughs.

City Manager Charles McNeely told the council this week that talks with the San Bernardino Police Officers Association have dragged on longer than expected and asked for authority to impose unpaid furloughs on officers.

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10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 20, 2010

By PAUL LAROCCO
The Press-Enterprise

Three years ago, San Bernardino police sought to improve response times to emergency calls, which then averaged more than six minutes.

They appeared to be successful. By the end of 2008, department statistics showed that officers were being sent to such incidents in just over four minutes, or 34 percent faster.

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James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Created: 07/20/2010 05:39:24 PM PDT

San Bernardino County leaders are applauding a new law that will allow the county to have more than one grand jury, but it’s not clear if or when the law might be used.

The law, signed last week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, gives the county’s presiding judge the ability to create a second civil grand jury that would be able to investigate government entities in the county.

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Devereaux

Gregory C. Devereaux
Created: 07/19/2010 07:29:13 PM PDT

On June 28, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved a balanced budget for the fiscal year that began on July1. With the help of employee-approved salary deferrals, the use of reserves to create ongoing funding, and departmental budget reductions, the board was able to close an $89.4 million shortfall. The new budget eliminates 529 county positions, 85 of them currently filled.

As difficult as it might have been to balance this year’s budget, even greater fiscal challenges lie ahead. Due to a continuing decline in property tax revenues as well as increased costs, $133 million in deficits are projected for the next four years, including a $48 million deficit for the fiscal year that begins less than 12 short months from now.

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Lewis

July 20, 2010 4:43 PM
From Staff Reports

WASHINGTON • The Obama administration’s lawsuit against Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration law is contrary to both current law and Congress’ authority, Rep. Jerry said Tuesday.

Lewis joined 76 members of the House of Representatives and five senators in filing a court brief opposing the suit attempting to overturn Arizona’s law designed to limit illegal immigration.

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Derry

Parties can’t be held on county property
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/20/2010 08:32:03 PM PDT

Rave organizers can scratch Calico Ghost Town and Glen Helen Regional Park off their lists of potential venues as San Bernardino County leaders on Tuesday said county-owned facilities cannot be used for rave parties.

In a memo sent Tuesday, county Chief Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux said existing county policies barring events that create “unreasonable security, utility, custodial or other operational problems” mean raves cannot be held at county owned facilities.

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Published: Wednesday, Jul. 21, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 8B

In a further sign of troubles in the real estate market, California new home sales fell 46 percent in May compared with a year ago, the California Building Industry Association said Tuesday.

The drop in greater Sacramento was 51 percent, the association said. Its figures are compiled in cooperation with Hanley Wood Market Intelligence.

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By PE News
on July 21, 2010 5:00 AM

The California Fair Political Practices Commission has fined a San Bernardino Community College board member and his campaign treasurer $6,000 for failing to report campaign contributions on time.

The state ethics watchdog agency approved the fine at its May meeting and sent an enforcement letter last month to John Futch, who was elected to the board in 2008, and his treasurer, Fermin Ramirez.

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By Claudia Buck
cbuck@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 21, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A

More than 400,000 jobless Californians could be getting a check in the mail in coming weeks, thanks to a U.S. Senate vote Tuesday that broke a prolonged political deadlock on unemployment benefits.

The vote to cut off debate came after months of partisan fighting over approval of $33 billion to extend jobless benefits through Nov. 30. The measure is expected to pass the Senate and House as early as today and be signed by President Barack Obama by week’s end.

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The city manager, his assistant and the police chief will be asked to step down and give up their high salaries. City Council members may reduce their own pay too.

By Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times

July 21, 2010

Bell City Council members are seeking the resignations of the city manager and two other top officials amid growing public outcry over salaries that appear to be among the highest in the nation, according to three sources close to the discussions.

The embattled council directed its attorney to immediately begin negotiating with the three.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/20/2010 06:53:24 PM PDT

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a $100 million lawsuit filed against the county by a Fontana recycling plant owner who alleges the county has held his operating permit hostage for three years.

U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips dismissed the case, with prejudice, after ruling the case did not belong in federal court and denying petitioner Michael Mendonca’s request to transfer the case to San Bernardino Superior Court.

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Jesse B. Gill, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/20/2010 08:32:04 PM PDT

REDLANDS – The City Council took the advice of City Manager N. Enrique Martinez and will try to balance the General Fund budget five fiscal years in advance.

Martinez suggested the council direct city staff to prepare a long-range plan to balance the next five budgets instead of focusing on one at a time.

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Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/20/2010 07:09:56 PM PDT

The two tea parties in Redlands are beginning a push to make their voices and concerns heard locally.

Members from the Redlands Tea Party Patriots and Redlands Townhall Patriots attended the evening session of Tuesday’s City Council meeting to make it known they do not support a sales tax hike proposed for the November ballot.

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11:31 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 20, 2010

By SANDRA STOKLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Hard on the heels of Eastvale’s successful incorporation drive, its closest and much older neighbor will make its own case for cityhood Thursday before Riverside’s boundary-setting agency.

Members of the Jurupa Valley Incorporation Research Committee say that unlike the 1992 election, when voters overwhelmingly rebuffed cityhood, this time residents are united behind the concept of local control.

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Carly Fiorina

July 20th, 2010, 3:24 pm · posted by Dena Bunis, Washington Bureau Chief

Republican Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina has changed her mind, saying on a San Francisco radio show Tuesday morning that she would have voted yes on the unemployment benefits extension bill that was cleared Tuesday afternoon for a full Senate vote with just two GOP lawmakers voting yes.

“I probably would have voted for this extension,” Fiorina said on KGO radio. “But I tell you what, I think that it is absolutely appropriate for people to stand on their desks and say when is it that we’re finally going to do what needs to be done and cut government spending.”

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

In the summer silly season of California’s 1990 campaign for governor, a strategist for Dianne Feinstein used to say that running against Pete Wilson was like “getting up every morning and having somebody throw marbles in front of you” all day.

The description perfectly expressed the challenge of facing the aggressive, always-on-offense style of Republican Wilson’s camp, which worked assiduously to keep Democrat Difi constantly off balance before defeating her in November.

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By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 21, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

The state’s perpetual budget crisis makes headlines, but California’s 5,000 units of local government – counties, cities and school, fire, park and water districts – also are feeling financial pain unseen since the Great Depression.

Stagnant or declining revenues – property and sales taxes and state aid – and unsustainable, sometimes improper, spending have brought many local entities to the brink of insolvency.

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