10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 26, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterrise
San Bernardino County is no longer revealing its litigation costs in its civil lawsuit against former county officials accused of corruption.
County officials say they’re doing so to protect their legal strategy and that state law allows them to keep information about litigation records confidential until the matter is resolved.
San Bernardino County
Workers won’t be able to use small pharmacies
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Created: 07/25/2010 08:06:05 PM PDT
The issue is the right of consumer choice vs. saving money.
It’s about supporting local businesses or shrinking expenses.
And independent pharmacy owners across San Bernardino County are hopping mad.
Cost-saving measure
47 to shift to county’s jails
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/21/2010 08:03:25 PM PDT
Come July 31, 47 sheriff’s deputies from stations across San Bernardino County will be transferring from their respective stations to the county’s four detention centers to eliminate about $8 million in overtime at the jails.
To make up for the loss, another 44 deputies will be transferring from their respective stations to backfill the vacancies left at the other stations from the deputies transferring to the jails.
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.
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.
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, July 16, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County pays the highest car allowance of any Southern California county and provides it to the most employees, according to a survey released this week.
The $1,123-a-month stipend, provided to officials and staff members who use their own vehicles instead of county-owned cars, is almost twice as much as in other nearby counties.
A county union has moved to recover legal costs from San Bernardino County after the judge hearing a lawsuit filed by the county encouraged them to do so.
A lawsuit filed against the San Bernardino County Public Attorney’s Association by the County, at the recommendation of County Counsel Ruth Stringer and Public Defender Doreen Boxer, was dismissed a few months ago.
At that time the judge in the case, Christopher Warner, expressed his displeasure at the county for bringing such a ridiculous action.
San Bernardino County officials have taken a new approach at inquiries into costs associated with civil litigation related to alleged time card fraud in the Assessors operation under Bill Postmus.
The new approach? We’re not going to tell you.
Yes, that’s right. An official request for an updated legal cost figure was met with the following response. The cost of taxpayer-sponsored litigation is now confidential!
Written by Administrator
July 13th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Almost two years ago I argued with a chief or staff or two as to why it would be wrong and unethical for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to bypass Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales and give the vice-chairmanship to newcomer First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. Josie had paid her dues; it was her turn in the rotation; and it would look bad, not only because she was the only minority and woman on the board, but also because the corruption scandal was just heating up and no one really knew at that time if Mitzelfelt would be dragged into it as Postmus’ chief of staff. We wrote a number of articles chastising the board for even considering not electing her to the position she earned.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/13/2010 07:13:11 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected an appeal attempting to block construction of a 27-acre solar plant in the High Desert community of Newberry Springs.
The county Planning Commission approved the project on April 22, and Newberry Springs residents James and Ramona Doles, who live across the street from where the solar plant will be built, subsequently appealed the decision.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 5, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
San Bernardino County administrator Greg Devereaux continues to put his imprint on the county government.
Devereaux announced last week that he’ll move at least nine Board of Supervisors staff members under his office, where they will serve the supervisors but report to him.
Greg Devereaux
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/03/2010 07:10:35 AM PDT
San Bernardino County’s nearly 19,000 employees have accrued $152 million in vacation and sick time, holiday pay and administrative leave – an unfunded liability that will need addressing to keep the budget on track in coming years, officials say.
The problem is not the accrual, considered a standard process in many counties and municipalities, but the fact that the county has not funded the accrued time in past years, County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux said.
Ramos
Sources inside the San Bernardino County’s District Attorney and County Administrative Offices are quietly confirming the cost of DA Mike Ramos’ alleged corruption investigations involving multiple individuals has exceeded $5 million.
A huge taxpayer price tag for Ramos’ reelection showcase and political vendetta.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 30, 2010
By JEFF HORSEMAN
The Press-Enterprise
The staffs working directly for the five San Bernardino County supervisors have almost doubled since 2003, costing millions of dollars, coming not from the general fund but from the board’s discretionary accounts, a report released Wednesday states.
An annual report by the county grand jury said that money should be in the general fund to cover the county’s budget shortfall, which stood at $89.1 million prior to Monday’s passage of a 2010-11 spending plan.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 06/30/2010 09:20:01 PM PDT
During the last fiscal year, San Bernardino County supervisors used $2.6million earmarked for special projects and programs in their districts to fund additional staffing in their offices, the Grand Jury has found.
Since 1999, each county supervisor has been allocated discretionary funds to fund special projects and programs benefitting their communities. The amount each supervisor has received since 2005 ranges from $400,000 to $750,000, according to the 2009-2010 Grand Jury report released Wednesday.
James Rufus Koren and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 06/28/2010 06:23:41 PM PDT
San Bernardino County’s budget for the new fiscal year calls for cutting hundreds of county jobs and holding off on raises for many county employees.
County leaders approved the 2010-11 spending plan Monday. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
The $3.8 billion spending plan calls for cutting 529 county positions. County leaders acknowledged the budget included “painful decisions” but said it will help the county remain on solid financial ground into the future.
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Created: 06/22/2010 04:49:13 PM PDT
County employees represented by the San Bernardino Public Employees Association have agreed to benefits concessions that will reduce a projected $89.4 million deficit in fiscal year 2010-11 by $13 million.
The union also agreed to $42 million in salary concessions that will provide savings to state and federally funded portions of the county’s budget, said county spokesman David Wert.
10:12 PM PDT on Sunday, June 20, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
Concerned about the increased number of pit bull attacks in recent years, San Bernardino County officials are proposing an ordinance that would require owners to spay and neuter their pets.
In the past five years, four people have died due to injuries from pit bull attacks in the county, according to the county’s Animal Care and Control Division. Just this year, six attacks involving pit bulls were reported, including two that involved young children who died as a result.
Derry
Neil Derry
Posted: 06/06/2010 05:51:16 PM PDT
This is my first full budget cycle as the newest member of the Board of Supervisors. As a candidate, many people approached me to provide insight into the workings of San Bernardino County government. As a newly elected supervisor, many more provided their perspective and painted their colorful pictures. However, I was determined to educate myself and observe the inner workings firsthand so that I could arrive at my own conclusions instead of being influenced by the biases of others.
Rebecca U. Cho, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/03/2010 05:54:09 PM PDT
Pundits may be preaching an economic turnaround, but San Bernardino County residents aren’t feeling the conviction. And public officials could be bearing the brunt of dissatisfactions over the economy, a survey shows.
Just nine percent of 1,052 respondents believed the economy was excellent or good. This was a decline from 12 percent last year and a severe drop from 40 percent in 2008, showed an Inland Empire Annual Survey from Cal State San Bernardino.
Uffer
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County’s former top administrator filed a wrongful termination lawsuit Wednesday, accusing supervisors of firing him in November because he was cooperating with corruption investigations.
The complaint was filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court a month after the county rejected an April 1 claim by former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer seeking $15 million in damages.
Written by Administrator
May 24th, 2010 at 9:02 am
“Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both. — Eleanor Roosevelt”
So far in this series we have discussed the District Attorney’s office and the Conflict Panel. There are three other components to justice, or the lack thereof, in San Bernardino County: the Public Defender, the Sheriff’s Department, and the Superior Court bench. Today, we will discuss the office of the Public Defender.
One things for certain.
San Bernardino County doesn’t want any bad news made public. And when it does go public by way of internal leaks, the course of action is to downplay or deny.
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, April 30, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
Now that they’ve done it, San Bernardino County supervisors’ decision to make a “limited waiver” of attorney-client privilege in the controversial $102 million Colonies settlement seems so obvious.
Why did it take two months to come up with such a simple solution?
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Executive Editor Frank Pine
Posted: 04/24/2010 07:03:10 PM PDT
In two days, San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors will decide whether to hand over to state and local prosecutors confidential information related to the county’s legal wrangling with Colonies Partners LP over a controversial land dispute.
The dispute was settled in 2006, when the board voted 3-2 to pay Colonies $102 million for legal expenses, land and flood-control improvements on the developer’s Upland property.
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, April 23, 2010
Cassie MacDuff
Tired of waiting, the state attorney general has issued an ultimatum to San Bernardino County supervisors: Either surrender the confidentiality of your lawyers’ advice on a controversial $102 million settlement, or we’ll see you in court.
In a strongly worded April 20 letter, Senior Assistant Attorney General Gary W. Schons expressed frustration with the “unacceptable delay” holding up his office’s criminal investigation into whether the settlement with Colonies Partners was tainted by corruption.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Created: 04/22/2010 07:28:42 PM PDT
San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt appears to hold the decisive vote in a requested waiver of attorney-client privilege in an investigation by state and local prosecutors in the Colonies lawsuit settlement.
Supervisors Neil Derry and Josie Gonzales seem ready to approve the request while Supervisors Paul Biane and Gary Ovitt, who voted in favor of the 2006 settlement payment of $102 million to a Rancho Cucamonga developer, have recused themselves from upcoming vote and have denied any wrongdoing.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/21/2010 06:37:16 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – At least two supervisors say they’ll vote to give prosecutors details of the county’s $102 million settlement with Colonies Partners LP amid signs a resolution is near to a month-old request by investigators.
The settlement is at the center of a broad corruption investigation being conducted by state and local prosecutors.
07:43 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 21, 2010
By IMRAN CHORI
The Press-Enterprise
State and local prosecutors are threatening to take San Bernardino County supervisors to court to compel them to release documents in the Colonies Partners legal settlement that is at the center of an extortion and bribery investigation.
The San Bernardino County district attorney and state attorney general’s offices are seeking access to legal documents and attorneys hired by the county as part of an investigation alleging that the $102 million settlement with Colonies Partners was part of an illegal conspiracy involving extortion and $400,000 in bribes.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/20/2010 10:18:12 PM PDT
The state Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday threatened to take legal action if San Bernardino County doesn’t quickly waive its attorney-client privilege and release details of its litigation with Rancho Cucamonga-based developer Colonies Partners LP.
In a letter to the county Board of Supervisors, Senior Assistant Attorney General Gary Schons cited extensive precedents and legal authorities to argue the attorney-client privilege doesn’t apply in certain criminal investigations.
Neil Derry
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/19/2010 04:57:31 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – The county’s budget woes have prompted Supervisor Neil Derry to strip from his proposed Sunshine Ordinance a provision mandating the establishment of an ethics commission.
The county is facing a budget deficit of $90 million, and layoffs could occur if employees to not forgo pay raises for a second year, Derry said.
10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, April 17, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County has yet to hold any public discussion over its budget for the next fiscal year but officials are warning about possible layoffs as they deal with a $90 million shortfall.
County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux has been meeting with department heads to review how cuts as large as 20 percent could affect their ability to operate. Negotiations have also been going on with the unions representing most county employees over their willingness to forego contracted salary increases.
I’m reprinting the following story from yesterday’s Lake Arrowhead Mountain News for several reasons. First, our favorite spin master denied our previous reports that the budget deficit is higher than $90 million. We have been hearing rumors that San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux has been saying behind the scenes that our information is correct, but the county is denying the same to newspaper reporters and the public. Now, we have some proof, although he is not admitting just how bad it really is.
Second, someone pointed this article out to me for a completely different reason. If you read the article, it says that the county wants employees to postpone their raises INDEFINITELY. That is not what the union is telling us.
Friday, April 16, 2010
By Glenn Barr
With a $90 million budget deficit and likely layoffs looming for next fiscal year, San Bernardino County’s financial picture has worsened in the past few days with the discovery of millions of dollars in unfunded liabilities.
County officials have yet to determine how much money could be owed to employees who have accumulated leave time for which they must eventually be paid, said Chief Administrative Officer Gregory Devereaux, who said he intends to try to figure it out after the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, April 2, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI and DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County supervisors and their staffs regularly bypassed their top administrator to deal directly with county departments, worked to secure no-bid contracts for individual projects and threatened employees with their jobs.
That’s the picture former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer paints in a detailed claim filed against the county on Thursday.
Uffer, ousted late last year on a 3-2 vote, is seeking $15 million in damages and accuses the county of wrongful termination, defamation and fraud. He said he was retaliated against for cooperating with the grand jury and an ongoing district attorney’s investigation.
Story continues below
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/02/2010 07:25:51 PM PDT
Former San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer has filed a $15 million claim against the county, alleging he was fired in November in retaliation for cooperating with authorities in an ongoing corruption probe.
The claim, filed this week, names county supervisors Gary Ovitt, Neil Derry and Brad Mitzelfelt, Ovitt’s chief of staff Mark Kirk, Derry’s former chief of staff Jim Erwin and former county supervisor Bill Postmus.
Ovitt, Mitzelfelt and Derry voted in favor of his ouster Nov. 17.
April 02, 2010 8:38 PM
NATASHA LINDSTROM, staff writer
SAN BERNARDINO • The former top county administrator ousted four months ago has filed a $15 million claim accusing supervisors of wrongful termination and a host of unlawful acts.
Mark Uffer, who was suddenly fired by the county Board of Supervisors “for no cause” on a Nov. 17 split vote, blames supervisors and their top staffers for retaliating against him after he cooperated with the county grand jury and District Attorney’s office.
Uffer
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, April 1, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County’s former top administrator filed a claim Thursday accusing supervisors of firing him in November in retaliation for his cooperation with prosecutors and the grand jury in ongoing corruption investigations.
Former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer is seeking $15 million in damages, alleging wrongful termination, defamation, breach of contracts and fraud.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 03/29/2010 03:44:48 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will resume private discussion today regarding the purchase of the Carousel Mall property in downtown San Bernardino, where a new government center is being proposed.
The board began the private talks nearly a year ago and has discussed other potential sites for county offices as far west as Ontario.
Neil Derry
To read statement issued by Supervisor Neil Derry regarding Attorney General request for waiver of privilege, click here: Statement by Supervisor Neil Derry
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/23/2010 07:20:00 PM PDT
The state Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday voted to advance proposed legislation that would provide San Bernardino County with additional grand juries to investigate local government.
Sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, the legislation, if passed by the full legislature and signed by the Governor, would allow San Bernardino County’s presiding judge to impanel two grand juries solely to probe complaints about local government.
Neil Derry
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/19/2010 07:45:58 PM PDT
San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry on Friday released a draft of his proposed Sunshine Ordinance aimed at thwarting unethical county practices and making information more accessible to the public.
The proposed ordinance mandates establishment of an ethics commission that would include on its panel a local journalist and attorney appointed by the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 17, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
State and local prosecutors are seeking legal documents from San Bernardino County’s 2006 settlement with Colonies Partners as part of their investigation into whether the $102 million agreement was part of an illegal conspiracy.
In a letter delivered to supervisors Tuesday, the California attorney general’s office and San Bernardino County district attorney asked the Board of Supervisors to waive its attorney-client privilege in the Colonies litigation and make available all the relevant documents.
10:00 PM PST on Saturday, March 13, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County could have up to three civil grand juries impaneled under state legislation being considered that one supervisor says could serve as a meaningful reform.
The bill, introduced last month by Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley at the request of the county, would allow two more panels with the ability to investigate local government.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/13/2010 04:41:01 PM PST
After getting off to a slow start at its inception in 2003, the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit has garnered attention over the past year with major cases against high level former officials of San Bernardino County.
From blowing open an alleged massive county corruption scandal to targeting conflicts of interest at the municipal level, the unit appears to be gaining momentum in its effort to ferret out alleged misdeeds by government officials.
Joy Juedes, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/10/2010 09:40:45 PM PST
MENTONE – Third District Supervisor Neil Derry fielded questions about Redlands again at the Mentone Area Community Association meeting on Tuesday night.
Derry began by saying he recently moved to Redlands.
“So we’re local now – just down the street from you, actually,” he said.
Neil Derry
Supervisor Neil Derry
Posted: 03/09/2010 07:32:21 PM PST
These are indeed troubled times for San Bernardino County.
Again.
Recently, former county officials were arrested and there are clear indications that a multitude of investigations may well lead to more arrests, more exposures of misdeeds, and sadly, continued confirmation to residents here and those elsewhere that this county remains the Wild West.
I ran for supervisor to take on these tough issues. I believe we should dig deeply into these scandals. That is why the voters of the 3rd District elected me.
Neil Derry
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/03/2010 08:39:38 PM PST
HIGHLAND – Combatting corruption and compensation reforms for high-level employees were just a few subjects Neil Derry, San Bernardino County’s 3rd District supervisor, addressed at a Wednesday night town hall meeting at the Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center.
Derry said he hopes to establish an ethics commission that would hold elected and appointed county officials accountable for bad behavior and spoke of his successful bid to eliminate an annual $26,000 medical benefits package the Board of Supervisors received.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/03/2010 06:07:46 PM PST
San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), the county’s transportation planning agency, passed a resolution Wednesday demanding that the county commissionan independent investigation of its $102 million legal settlement with a Rancho Cucamonga developer in November 2006.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for San Bernardino County government it does.
From a Board of Supervisors under siege to a county-run medical center falling into disarray, things are pretty bad.
A claim filed by the former mistress of District Attorney Mike Ramos is once again on the closed session agenda of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors this morning.
Rumors have been circulating that an official request for the production of what is commonly referred to as “back-up material” or “work product” related to the investigation into Ramos’ relationship and treatment of District Attorney employee Cheryl Ristow has been rejected by the law firm hired to do the work.
It is our understanding case law holds that the material is public record.
Hansberger
One year later and no word has come out of the San Bernardino County District Attorney as to whether or not he will charge political ally and former Third District Supervisor Dennis Hansberger.
Hansberger’s successor, Supervisor Neil Derry lodged a complaint directly with Ramos on March 2, 2009 alleging Hansberger directed his staff to destroy all of the Districts correspondence and project files. A violation of county policy and a felony under California law.
Hansberger openly admitted to local newspapers that he directed the action occur.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/01/2010 02:58:28 PM PST
District Attorney Michael A. Ramos called for tighter regulation of political action committees as a way to combat corruption, but some county supervisors questioned whether they have the authority.
Supervisor Neil Derry said local governments cannot impose tighter restrictions on state-regulated PACs. He said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that found it unconstitutional to place limits on how much corporations and unions can directly give to city elections has prompted the cities of San Diego and Los Angeles to lift contribution limits in their cities.
Last spring the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors embarked on a “score some political points” statement. One that would make them look like corruption fighters.
County supervisors were going to show residents accountability was at hand. The board voted 5-0 to initiate litigation against Former Assessor Bill Postmus and his staff to recover taxpayer funds related to time card fraud. The support for filing the lawsuit was the county’s success at recovering from individuals and businesses related to misconduct in the late 1990′s.
What supervisors received for their vote this time can best be described as a “legal boondoggle”.
So now San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos has decided county supervisors have too much power.
It’ll be interesting to see if county supervisors in California’s other 57 counties agree. Not likely.
In an obvious campaign maneuver Ramos made the rounds with local newspaper editorial boards this week touting his so-called “white paper” on reforming county government.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/24/2010 09:45:41 PM PST
District Attorney Michael A. Ramos on Wednesday released a slate of proposed governmental reforms he feels are necessary to thwart the legacy of corruption in San Bernardino County.
During a meeting with The Sun’s editorial board, Ramos said cleaning up corruption in the county will be part of his platform in his re-election campaign this year.
The escalation of actions between the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and District Attorney Mike Ramos can be described in no other words than “Political War”.
While county supervisors sweep their offices for surveillance devices, Ramos tramples over Title 18 of the United States Code in his quest for political dominance in the county.
Title 18 covers violation of civil rights under color of law.
Something that now appears to have finally caught the eye of federal investigators.
Cassie MacDuff
10:00 PM PST on Monday, February 22, 2010
Why does one public official’s failure to disclose a gift, income or property warrant criminal charges, while others get off with mere fines?
I’ve wondered about that since the arrest last year of former San Bernardino County Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin on 10 felonies.
Erwin is headed for trial on charges related to not disclosing a trip back East on developer Jeff Burum’s private jet and a Rolex watch Burum gave him.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/19/2010 08:50:44 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – County supervisors spent $22,500 last month to sweep their offices and other parts of the government center for secret recording devices and other hidden surveillance equipment.
The first sweep of the fourth and fifth floors of the county building occurred Jan. 23, and the purchase order provides for four more sweeps at undisclosed future dates.
11:40 PM PST on Saturday, February 13, 2010
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County faces a $90 million budget shortfall for next fiscal year, leaving supervisors grappling with ways to overcome it. Widespread budget cuts are likely.
Starting this week, supervisors must begin adjusting to work with a new county administrative officer, his new leadership style and other possible management changes he may want.
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/13/2010 05:02:59 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – When county supervisors gather Tuesday to decide what to do about the massive government corruption alleged by state and local prosecutors, four of the five board members say they will remain objective despite close personal ties to the scandal’s key figures and events.
Last week’s arrests of former county Supervisor Bill Postmus and former assistant assessor Jim Erwin raised new questions about the county’s $102 million payout to settle a lawsuit with developer Colonies Partners four years ago.
Posted by Administrator at 12 February 2010
As previously reported, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is only meeting this year 27 out of 52 weeks, which proves we could do just fine with a part-time Board of Supervisors. Besides for the usual 12 “dark” weeks due to regular holidays, the BOS has found an additional 13 holidays to celebrate to justify their additional “darkness.”
In this article we will take a close look at the destroy-at-all-cost targeting of San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos and his Orange County-based political consultant David Ellis, owner of Delta Partners, LLC.
One thing is for certain. It’s becoming increasingly obvious Ramos’ agenda in his falsely-proclaimed never-ending quest to rid San Bernardino County of political corruption, and it definitely isn’t about fighting crime.
That agenda being, neutralize the county’s west-end political power base.
District Attorney Mike Ramos
11:01 PM PST on Thursday, February 11, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos is raising concerns that the latest charges in a corruption investigation, now implicating two county supervisors, could result in budgetary reprisals.
Ramos said Wednesday after announcing new charges against a former county supervisor and a former assistant assessor that he was concerned that supervisors, to thwart the investigation, might remove key staff from his department through budget cuts.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/10/2010 09:50:01 PM PST
Prosecutors charged two former county officials with conspiracy, bribery and extortion on Wednesday in what was described as the “biggest corruption scandal in San Bernardino County’s history.”
Former Assessor Bill Postmus, 38, of Victorville and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin, 47, of Highland were arrested by district attorney’s investigators early Wednesday morning and booked into jail in lieu of $225,000 bail and $380,000 bail, respectively.
The campaign finance disclosure statements for members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors have some interesting characteristics of note.
Here is the annual summary of all five supervisors who collectively raised $899,384.54 in 2009.
Not bad for a poor economy.
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.
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.
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.
10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, January 20, 2010
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise
SAN BERNARDINO – San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry said Wednesday he will ask the county to pick up the tab for a woman’s battle against the annexation of six parcels to San Bernardino.
“I’m flabbergasted,” north San Bernardino resident Susan Hulse said after Derry came to her aid before the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission.
James Rufus Koren and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 01/19/2010 09:38:48 PM PST
More than a year before he was hired as San Bernardino County’s top administrator, Greg Devereaux traveled cross-country on a private jet for a weekend of college football and camaraderie with county Supervisor Paul Biane and two investors from Rancho Cucamonga development company Colonies Partners.
Biane says he used the September 2008 trip as an opportunity to query Devereaux – the longtime Ontario city manager – about whether he’d be interested in becoming the county’s chief administrative officer.
Posted by Administrator3 at 19 January 2010
For almost a year the question has been asked repeatedly, “Why would San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos take on the likes of Jim Erwin?” It’s especially puzzling for several reasons.
First, Mike is a poltroon. He utilizes his paltry supply of testosterone to satisfy his overactive libido. None is left to be a man in any other way. He is emasculated. He is not capable of going to battle because he believes in the righteousness of an issue. To suggest he is attempting to “clean up corruption” is ludicrous, especially coming from one of the most corrupt district attorneys in the entire country.
10:40 PM PST on Monday, January 11, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enteprise
San Bernardino County supervisors appear likely to appoint a new county administrative officer at their meeting today.
The agenda includes a closed-session discussion on the possible appointment of a county administrator and, in the public part of the meeting, approval of a contract for whoever is hired. The contract was not available Monday but a report from board Chairman Gary Ovitt said the agenda item was “posted in anticipation there will be an announcement from closed session.”
Hansberger
Yes, just when you think it couldn’t get any more ridiculous than it already is. Coming out of left field, but not totally unexpected.
Murmurings are beginning to surface out of the Redlands contingent that ousted former county supervisor Dennis Hansberger may be in revenge mode.
Wait, I forgot.
Hansberger is always in revenge mode.
10:00 PM PST on Friday, January 8, 2010
Cassie MacDuff, The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County supervisors have heard from more than 200 applicants for the county administrative officer post since they fired Mark Uffer two months ago.
But in truth, they’ve been interested in only one man from the start: Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux.
Devereaux has been Ontario’s manager since 1997 and Fontana’s before that, from 1992 to 1997. He’s widely respected among local municipal leaders.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/07/2010 07:01:40 PM PST
A Redlands woman whose allegations of sexual harassment against San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos spurred an investigation has filed a $1.5 million claim against the county, Ramos and two of his high ranking staff.
Cheryl Ristow, a seven-year employee of the District Attorney’s Office, states in her claim that she had a 3 1/2-year affair with Ramos that ended in 2005.
Her claim is a precursor to a lawsuit.
Joe Nelson and Liset Marquez, Staff Writers
Posted: 01/05/2010 06:15:47 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO – The Board of Supervisors is courting Ontario City Manager Greg Devereaux to replace former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer, who was dismissed from his post in November, according to sources close to the search.
While more than 200 applications have been submitted for the county’s top appointed position, board members have their sights set on Devereaux, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
On Tuesday, the board met in closed session to review applications and discuss potential candidates for the position, which pays $274,000 a year.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/04/2010 09:32:36 PM PST
County supervisors will meet in closed session today to discuss the appointment of a new county administrative officer.
More than 200 applications have poured in since the abrupt firing of Mark Uffer on Nov. 17, said Mark Kirk, chief of staff for Board Chairman Gary Ovitt.
“It’s the top priority for my boss and all the other supervisors as well,” Kirk said.
11:07 PM PST on Saturday, December 19, 2009
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
The high-profile criminal charges came just weeks apart — one after the other — and now threaten the San Jacinto Valley’s reputation for years to come, residents, local officials and experts say.
Public officials at five prominent institutions were ensnared in bribery, corruption and campaign-finance scandals that could send them to prison.
Now, some residents worry the spotlight might hurt the community’s ability to attract new jobs and residents and stick the region with a corruption label they won’t be able to easily shed.
12:10 AM PST on Thursday, December 17, 2009
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
An improved business district and continued road and water improvements are part of San Bernardino County’s long-range plan for Cedar Glen.
The five-year plan, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, is basically the same as one adopted in 2005 after 323 homes were destroyed in the 2003 Old Fire, about a third of the homes in the San Bernardino Mountains community.
Most of the promised improvements have been slow to come due to bureaucratic and legal wrangling. But with the county’s long-sought purchase of the community’s water company completed in January, the redevelopment agency has begun to make progress, Redevelopment Agency Director Kathy Thomas told supervisors.
SB County
Posted: 12/07/2009 08:14:18 PM PST
It’s too early to predict the outcome, but we like Supervisor Neil Derry’s focusing attention on areas where San Bernardino County may be spending more than it ought to.
His latest target is take-home county cars issued to 58 district attorney’s investigators. Derry has called for elimination of the county-supplied cars for the investigators, drawing a defense of the practice from Mike Donovan, assistant chief investigator in the District Attorney’s Office.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/06/2009 06:01:39 AM PST
A top investigator for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office says a proposal by Supervisor Neil Derry to eliminate take-home vehicles for 58 district attorney investigators is counterproductive and will not save the county money.
Last week, the Board of Supervisors approved a $144,000 audit with Maryland-based Mercury Associates, Inc. to determine if the county needs to reduce or consolidate operations of its fleet of about 5,000 vehicles, including the District Attorney’s Office.
Derry has specifically targeted district attorney investigators, arguing they are neither first responders to emergencies nor on-call.
10:00 PM PST on Saturday, December 5, 2009
CASSIE MACDUFF
San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors has passed another feel-good measure aimed at restoring public confidence in their ethics: a ban on using public office for personal gain.
Can you say “window dressing?”
Even the board’s biggest ethics cheerleader, Supervisor Neil Derry, admits the new law is largely a symbolic gesture.
Julie Rynerson Rock
Posted: 12/01/2009 07:02:28 PM PST
I read San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry’s Nov. 25 Point of View with interest. As he knows, Mr. Uffer “asked” me to retire in September, ostensibly in response to a “$6 million budget hole” that was discovered in Land Use Services. Supervisor Derry also cites that “budget hole” in his piece.
It is apparent from recent events that Mr. Uffer’s credibility is in question. I am not sure what he told the Board of Supervisors about the Land Use Services’ “budget hole,” but not one of them asked me. Supervisor Derry seems to value integrity and if he asks anyone on either side of the development equation – or any of my former staff, or his – he will discover that I have a reputation – deserved – for the highest level of integrity.
Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/27/2009 02:49:11 PM PST
HIGHLAND – There’s a conflict behind the razor wire, chainlink fences and towering iron gates of Patton State Hospital. Some say it’s a long-standing power struggle between the state and union corrections officers.
Others say it’s a byproduct of the troubled financial times.
But whatever the issue is, Patton officials say one thing is certain: Security is not in jeopardy due to the reduction of more than a dozen corrections officers at the facility for the criminally insane.
Supervisor Neil Derry
Posted: 11/24/2009 06:31:32 PM PST
Given the embarrassing history of corruption and scandal in San Bernardino County, it is understandable that some might be concerned by the recent dismissal of the county administrative officer.
The carousel of scandal and ineptitude plaguing our county government creates doubt, skepticism and cynicism.
Instead of allowing these concerns to go unanswered, I wanted to address my constituents.
Well before I took office, I was aware of the tensions that existed between many of our employees and the leadership of the county. Over this past year it has become apparent that the morale of San Bernardino County employees is extremely poor. Our employees, the men and women who provide services to this county, do not trust those who lead them. Worse, they don’t believe much of anything we say.
Uffer Era Ends on a 3-2 Vote
Mark Uffer’s five-year tenure as the county’s top administrative officer drew to a close this week with a 3-2 vote of the board of supervisors.
The sacking of Uffer, who was named interim county administrative officer in March 2004 and then given the official title as CAO in September 2004, was not done for cause, the county board members said. Rather, the three supervisors who favored having him take his leave said it was simply a matter of their changing management and policy imperatives rendering him out of step with their collective marching orders that sealed Uffer’s fate.
“The board felt it was necessary to move in a different direction at this time.” said board of supervisors chairman Gary Ovitt, who joined with supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry in approving the motion to terminate Uffer.
It seems San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Neil Derry held a succesful political fundraiser event in Redlands last Wednesday evening. This was Derry’s first event since taking office last December.
By all reports the packed house will net the supervisor six figures.
The only reason I write on this today is that it doesn’t appear the event suffered any impact from attempts by Derry’s colleague, Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales, to cut off Derry’s fundraising.
Particularly from local developers.
Supervisors seek ‘a different direction’
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/17/2009 07:50:25 PM PST
In an abrupt move, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unexpectedly fired County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer.
The firing is “without cause,” meaning Uffer was not accused of wrongdoing and is entitled to a full severance package.
“It took me totally by surprise. I had no idea this was coming,” Uffer said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “It’s certainly a disappointment when you know you’ve given the best you can give and that doesn’t seem to be good enough.”
In a closed session, the board voted 3-2 to remove Uffer from his appointed post. Supervisors Paul Biane and Josie Gonzales voted against the action.
The other day I wrote just a little bit about a conversation I had with Mark Kirk, Chairman Gary Ovitt’s Chief of Staff, almost a year ago about the Supervisor Ovitt’s hope to restore integrity and ethics to San Bernardino County governance. Those hopes and plans were derailed by a gang of three, Mike Ramos, Mark Uffer and Ruth Stringer, in an effort to maintain chaos on the Fifth Floor so to cover up their own misdeeds and the misdeeds of their supporters.
This calendar year has been a year of frustration for many, both on the inside and on the outside looking in. Instead of the promise of a re-commitment to transparency, reform and progress, the Board of Supervisors has been stagnant at best and more often described as emasculated due to the threats of an out-of-control District Attorney who has been aided and abetted by a disloyal County Administrative Officer and County Counsel who put their own political interests ahead of the people they serve.
On Tuesday, at least three of the five of you are expected to darn near make history in this county. It’s been a long time in the making. And there is a good reason for that, it being a long time in the making, that is. Her name is Ruth Stringer, your trusted legal counsel.
The change you will be making should have been made long ago. Had it been done a year ago, likely most of you would have had a less tumultuous year, even if you don’t know it. Let’s just say “subterfuge” has been a key term for the past year.
And Ruth Stringer has been a key player in this subterfuge. Think of the grief she has caused some of you.
Point of View
Supervisor Neil Derry
Posted: 10/29/2009 05:56:52 PM PDT
On Oct. 25, we recognized the sixth anniversary of the Old Fire that ripped through the city of San Bernardino destroying more than 400 homes in a single day, forever changing the landscape of the Del Rosa neighborhood that I represented as the 4th Ward City Council member.
Our neighborhoods in the foothills have always been areas most threatened by natural disaster. One need only be reminded of the Panorama Fire 20 years prior and Little Mountain that burns annually to see this truth, not to mention the flooding that always seems to follow.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/28/2009 03:55:12 PM PDT
The county, at the request of Supervisor Neil Derry, will conduct a survey of other counties to see how they handle accrual of vacation time for their employees.
Derry, who is pushing for caps on vacation accrual time for high-level county employees, made the request to County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
