Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
BY DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
STAFF WRITER
dsantschi@pe.com
Published: 18 January 2012 01:07 PM
Veteran Colton City Councilman Frank A. Gonzales has been named the city’s new mayor pro tem.
By Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Created: 12/12/2011 04:41:50 PM PST
COLTON – Months of uncertainty and disagreement ended Monday, after the teachers union voted overwhelmingly to accept a new contract.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/01/2011 06:12:59 PM PST
Colton teachers protested near Colton High School on Thursday, calling for district staff to return to the bargaining table as outside fact-finders prepare to investigate the bargaining process.
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/15/2011 11:20:57 PM PST
COLTON-The Colton City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that bans encampment on public property after raising concerns that a potential Occupy movement encampment in public parks could endanger public safety.
Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 11/08/2011 12:48:26 PM PST
In what is being called an unusual move, the San Bernardino County Grand Jury is refuting claims by San Bernardino International Airport officials that its audit on airport operations was riddled with errors.
Joe Nelson and Josh Dulaney, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/01/2011 05:59:53 PM PDT
Embattled San Bernardino International Airport developer Scot Spencer has racked up roughly $545,876 in delinquent property taxes since 2005, of which $31,618 has been seized by the county tax collector.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Created: 11/01/2011 07:36:14 PM PDT
Federal agents on Tuesday raided an Upland location and five others associated with Aaron Sandusky, whom they believe are illegally selling marijuana to the general public.
Miller
DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
STAFF WRITER
dsantschi@pe.com
Published: 26 October 2011 10:46 AM
Retired Colton police chief Bob Miller has been hired as a law enforcement and public integrity specialist for the Riverside-based law firm Best Best & Krieger.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/20/2011 07:26:29 PM PDT
COLTON – More than 300 teachers protested against what they said are unfair contract demands again on Thursday, joined this time by firefighters, police officers and members of the National Organization for Women.
BY DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
STAFF WRITER
dsantschi@pe.com
Published: 19 October 2011 09:06 PM
Steve Ward has been sworn in as Colton’s police chief, vowing to make the town safer for residents and less hospitable for criminals.
Steve Ward
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/13/2011 04:15:47 PM PDT
COLTON – Steve Ward was selected at permanent police chief Thursday, after six months with an “interim” in his title.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/13/2011 11:56:05 AM PDT
Airport panelists on Wednesday talked about how to communicate with San Bernardino International Airport staff, but before setting policy, they decided it would be best to talk about it again later.
DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
STAFF WRITER
dsantschi@pe.com
Published: 08 October 2011 10:43 PM
Colton city officials are warning that state-imposed renewable energy requirements could force the city to raise rates paid by the city’s 18,000 electric utility customers.
Cassie MacDuff
Cassie MacDuff
cmacduff@pe.com
Published: 07 October 2011 10:29 PM
The embattled San Bernardino International Airport Authority took some giant steps in the right direction last week, ordering a review of contracts with a controversial developer and promising to become more transparent.
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com
Published: 06 October 2011 04:52 PM
The public agency overseeing San Bernardino International Airport will review all of its agreements with the airport’s developer Scot Spencer at its Oct. 12 meeting during closed session and discuss whether to terminate parts of those agreements, said Tim Sabo, legal counsel for the San Bernardino International Airport Authority and the related Inland Valley Development Agency.
Ryan Hagen. The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 10/06/2011 01:34:49 PM PDT
COLTON – The Colton Unified School District board on Thursday delayed making a decision on potential cuts to transportation – including a plan that would eliminate busing for most students and 41 jobs – after a last-minute offer by the union representing those employees.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/05/2011 05:54:49 PM PDT
A committee of the San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA) board will meet Thursday afternoon to discuss the selection process for a new interim director at the airport.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/03/2011 06:10:17 PM PDT
For years, civic and business leaders have doggedly worked to convert San Bernardino International Airport into a promising commercial venture and a major passenger airport.
And many steadfastly believe it’s getting there.
Spencer
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/30/2011 06:16:21 PM PDT
The airport developer at the center of a federal investigation said Friday he has no intention of stepping down.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/29/2011 06:08:54 PM PDT
It is too early to speculate on what steps the San Bernardino International Airport will take to find a new top executive, officials said Thursday.
By Josh Dulaney, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 09/28/2011 03:34:06 PM PDT
Donald L. Rogers, the executive director of San Bernardino International Airport Authority, announced his retirement Wednesday at a meeting of the authority’s board in Loma Linda.
11:04 PM PDT on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com
A week after an FBI raid, Donald L. Rogers, executive director of the embattled public agencies that oversee San Bernardino International Airport, resigned Wednesday.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/27/2011 05:55:02 PM PDT
COLTON – After months of risking potential jail time, defying orders to shut down, operators of the city’s last medical marijuana dispensaries are now packing up.
Cassie MacDuff
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, September 26, 2011
Cassie MacDuff
The FBI raid on San Bernardino International Airport last Wednesday concerned enough people to pack the room where a special meeting of the airport authority board was held late Friday afternoon.
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/26/2011 07:47:46 PM PDT
RIALTO – One well serving residents more than a decade ago might have delivered concentrations of perchlorate high enough to affect the development of fetuses, infants and children, state officials say.
Sunday, September 25, 2011 – 11:30 a.m.
It was only a matter of time before federal officials descended onto the debacle involving the redevelopment of the former Norton Air Force Base.
10:31 PM PDT on Friday, September 23, 2011
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com
Just two days after the FBI and others raided San Bernardino International Airport searching for evidence that could be tied to conspiracy, bribery, fraud and money laundering, officials with the two public agencies that govern the airport offered little comment at a special meeting held Friday afternoon to discuss it.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/23/2011 08:52:14 PM P
LOMA LINDA – No comment and the promise of another meeting.
That’s all the public got after airport panelists came out of a 90-minute closed session meeting Friday to address issues related to the FBI raid Wednesday at San Bernardino International Airport.
10:54 PM PDT on Thursday, September 22, 2011
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com
PDF: FBI search warrant – S.B. airport
FBI and other investigators raided San Bernardino International Airport offices seeking evidence of bribery, theft, fraud, money laundering and more, according to a copy of a federal search warrant obtained Thursday from the lawyer for the two agencies that oversee development of the airport.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/22/2011 05:10:05 PM PDT
The FBI is investigating allegations of conspiracy, bribery, money laundering, theft of federal funds, and wire and mail fraud in connection with Wednesday’s raid at San Bernardino International Airport, according to a federal search warrant.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/22/2011 03:08:36 PM PDT
The San Bernardino International Airport Authority and Inland Valley Development Agency boards plan to meet jointly to address the FBI’s serving of seven search warrants at the airport and the Riverside home of airport developer Scot Spencer.
The meeting was called for by Josie Gonzales, who chairs the county Board of Supervisors.
Former Supervisor Dennis Hansberger
The following archived story is republished from the Press-Enterprise.
Putting troubles behind them
San Bernardino airport officials give no-bid contract for renovation to aviation insider with checkered past
08:55 PM PDT on Sunday, April 27, 2008
By JOSH BROWN
The Press-Enterprise
He spent four years in prison for bankruptcy fraud, oversaw a string of failed aviation ventures, and could be banned from the aviation industry altogether.
Morris
Thursday, September 22, 2100 – 08:00 a.m.
As federal agents were executing search warrants in an investigation into activities involving the redevelopment of the former Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris was reportedly knocking down the door of The Sun / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspapers.
No, I’m not kidding.
10:18 PM PDT on Wednesday, September 21, 2011
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL and DUG BEGLEY, STAFF WRITERS
kpierceall@pe.com | dbegley@pe.com
Published: 9/21/2011 06:20 PM
FBI agents and other law enforcement officers raided the San Bernardino International Airport Authority office and storage units as well as a home and offices used by Scot Spencer, a convicted felon who was awarded two no-bid agreements in 2007 to build a commercial airport at the former Norton Air Force Base.
By Joe Nelson and Josh Dulaney, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 09/21/2011 10:02:16 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO — The FBI on Wednesday served search warrants at San Bernardino International Airport and the Riverside home of airport developer Scot Spencer.
Joe Nelson and Melissa Pinion-Whitt
Posted: 09/21/2011 10:02:16 AM PDT
The FBI served six federal warrants this morning at the Inland Valley Development Agency and the San Bernardino International Airport Authority in San Bernardino.
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/14/2011 09:55:59 PM PDT
RIALTO – Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, asked a congressional subcommittee Wednesday to act on his legislation requiring the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct a study of the Rialto-Colton water basin that focuses on its perchlorate plume.
Cassie MacDuff
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, September 9, 2011
Cassie MacDuff
When a grand jury report criticized inadequate oversight at San Bernardino International Airport, officials fought back with positive publicity.
Newspaper ads touted a study showing public and private investment at the former Norton Air Force Base has created 9,355 jobs, generated $500 million in payroll and produced $1.2 billion in economic activity.
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, September 4, 2011
BY DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
STAFF WRITER
dsantschi@pe.com
Parents of Colton Joint Unified School District students will get a chance to weigh in on attendance boundaries for a middle school in Bloomington and a high school in Grand Terrace.
10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, September 3, 2011
BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com
The quest to replace some 10,000 jobs that disappeared when the military abandoned Norton Air Force Base in 1994 is evident today in the corporate names attached to brand new warehouses, distribution centers and a corporate jet terminal.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/22/2011 03:38:25 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO — Airport officials have submitted their formal response to a blistering Grand Jury report that second-guessed some of their decisions in the effort to turn the former Norton Air Force Base into a civilian airfield.
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, August 21, 2011
BY DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
STAFF WRITER
dsantschi@pe.com
The Colton City Council is taking steps it hopes won’t be necessary to protect the city’s redevelopment agency.
Sunday, August 21, 2011 – 09:00 a.m.
It would appear there are more secrets at San Bernardino International Airport that anyone could have ever imagined.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/20/2011 10:15:55 PM PDT
Colton Mayor Sarah S. Zamora took her new office last week with loads of goodwill from a supportive city.
That was clear when Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, called her swearing-in ceremony as mayor a “historical moment.”
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/16/2011 08:53:53 PM PDT
COLTON — Choking up as she recited the oath of office, Sarah S. Zamora was sworn in Tuesday as mayor.
Posted: 08/17/2011 01:38:57 AM PDT
COLTON – The city imposed new contracts on electrical and water employees Tuesday night after a breakdown in negotiations over furlough days.
Cassie MacDuff
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, August 15, 2011
Cassie MacDuff
Did a company affiliated with Scot Spencer, developer of San Bernardino International Airport, really have a deal to refurbish a plane for the Obama campaign in July 2008?
Cassie MacDuff
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, August 12, 2011
Cassie MacDuff
When the grand jury report on San Bernardino International Airport came out June 30, airport officials seemed more intent on discrediting the report than on what it revealed about some slipshod practices and weak oversight of the taxpayer-funded agency.
10:53 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 10, 2011
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
Staff Writer kpierceall@pe.com
The elected leaders overseeing San Bernardino International Airport voted Wednesday to agree to all but one of a civil grand jury’s 16 recommendations despite staff spending more than a month attempting to discredit the panel’s critical report that picked apart the oversight to develop the airport.
Authority to adopt some ideas from Grand Jury
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/10/2011 08:00:49 PM PDT
Airport officials adopted a series of responses Wednesday to several recommendations made by an auditor and published in a mostly negative Grand Jury report that questions how officials have handled the transformation of the former Norton Air Force Base into a commercial airport.
11:28 PM PDT on Monday, August 8, 2011
By DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise
Construction of car pool lanes along Highway 91 in Riverside and a major railroad overpass in Colton will begin by early next year, provided state officials approve a new round of money for transportation projects.
Council says no to special election
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/02/2011 08:54:45 PM PDT
COLTON – At the first meeting since David Zamora died in office, the City Council voted Tuesday night to keep a Mayor Zamora in office.
Tuesday, August 2, 1022 – 09:30 a.m.
In San Bernardino County politics nothing really ever changes in how the game is played. Only the players.
InlandPolitics.com has learned that the impending move of the Aviation Division fleet of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Departmen,t to the San Bernardino International Airport, may be used to aid embattled contractor Scot Spencer.
Colton school district finds money to put more instructors in classes
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/01/2011 05:44:26 PM PDT
COLTON – Twenty-one middle and high school teachers are back in the classroom in Colton Joint Unified School District.
Sunday, July 31, 2011 – 11:45 a.m.
There’s more drama at the troubled San Bernardino International Airport.
On the heels of a scathing Grand Jury report questioning the airport management’s decision-making and expenditures comes another little bombshell.
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, July 28, 2011
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise
The Colton school district has hired back 43 of the 57 teachers it laid off in May as it prepares for the opening of the new school year next week.
A nurse and 21 secondary school teachers were re-hired this week, Colton Joint Unified School District spokeswoman Katie Orloff said, joining 22 elementary school teachers rehired over the last two weeks.
Thursday, July 28, 2011 – 09:30 a.m.
InlandPolitics.com has learned that a study performed to evaluate the viability of the San Bernardino International Airport was actually commissioned and paid for by the facility’s governing authority.
10:22 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
The Press-Enterprise
Officials with the San Bernardino International Airport Authority spent nearly three hours Wednesday dismissing what they called errors in a civil grand jury report. Officials defended the price paid for used aviation equipment and refuted claims that the airport developer’s federal ban from aviation would affect airport operations.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/24/2011 02:47:35 PM PDT
Airport officials on Wednesday are expected to continue to chip away at what they say are factual errors in a Grand Jury report on their work at the former Norton Air Force Base.
Universities’ findings conflict with Grand Jury report
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/24/2011 09:12:10 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Efforts to transform the former Norton Air Force Base into a civilian airport and bring businesses to the surrounding area could reverse the devastating economic impact of the base’s closure on the region, according to a new report.
11:59 PM PDT on Saturday, July 23, 2011
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
The Press-Enterprise
When asked why control of most of San Bernardino International Airport was handed over to a convicted felon — sent to prison for taking kickbacks for secretly managing an airline in bankruptcy — those overseeing the former Norton Air Force Base’s conversion into a commercial airport gave two reasons.
Administrator’s Note: Finally, The Sun newspaper covers this issue, ever so scantily. The Press-Enterprise has been all over this $150 million and growing ordeal. One can only cover for San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris so long.
Purchases of used equipment cited
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/23/2011 07:10:41 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Hasty decision-making and slack financial oversight led airport officials to spend millions on used equipment when new equipment could have been bought at a cheaper price, according to a Grand Jury report.
David Zamora
By Ryan Hagen Staff Writer
Posted: 07/22/2011 06:02:36 PM PDT
COLTON – Laughter rang out at the Colton First Assembly of God Church on Friday as family, officials and 2,000 friends celebrated the life of David Zamora.
By Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/21/2011 05:40:18 PM PDT
COLTON – With just more than a week until classes begin, 22 of the 25 elementary school teachers laid off in May have been rehired.
09:07 AM PDT on Tuesday, July 19, 2011
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
The Press-Enterprise
A civil grand jury is urging San Bernardino International Airport officials to double-check a questionable legal settlement with the airport’s developer in order to recoup nearly $1 million in taxpayer’s money.
The report also questioned the value of the plane put up as security for most of the settlement, based on FAA title records.
David Zamora
Staff Reports
Posted: 07/18/2011 07:34:54 PM PDT
COLTON – A “Blue Mass” at San Salvador Catholic Church, 178 W. K St., on Monday evening also was a memorial for Mayor David Zamora, who died last week after suffering a heart attack while driving.
Agency happy with results
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/17/2011 11:04:20 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – A developer who was banned from the aviation industry has received millions of dollars for projects at San Bernardino International Airport, according to a Grand Jury report.
Sunday, July 17, 2011 – 11:30 a.m.
A scathing report the San Bernardino County Grand Jury dropped the San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA) back on June 28 will most likely have an unintended consequence.
Neil Derry
Supervisor Neil Derry
Posted: 07/16/2011 07:13:16 AM PDT
For those who have tracked my concerns regarding San Bernardino International Airport (SBIA) there are few surprises.
During my years as a San Bernardino City Council member, I stated clearly that I did not believe that the creation of a commercial passenger airport at the former Norton Air Force Base was the best, highest use for that property for the immediate future.
David Zamora
Thursday, July 14, 2011 – 05:00 p.m.
Colton Mayor David Zamora passed away of an apparent heart attack following a single-car car accident Thursday.
10:28 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
The Press-Enterprise
Eleven jet bridges, five baggage carousels and hundreds of seats, all hand-me-downs from American Airlines’ JFK terminal, are a key issue between San Bernardino International Airport officials and a civil grand jury.
Report questioned management
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/13/2011 07:59:18 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Airport officials on Wednesday continued to push back against a scathing Grand Jury report that casts doubts on whether they are properly managing the transformation of the former Norton Air Force Base.
Morris: SBIAA will address report
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/12/2011 08:56:38 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – Airport officials on Tuesday slammed the San Bernardino County Grand Jury’s report that called into question the effort to bring commercial flights to the city.
10:00 PM PDT on Saturday, July 9, 2011
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino International Airport officials, in reaction to a critical civil Grand Jury report, say agreements given to key airport developer Scot Spencer were not profitable even though he made $2.06 million in fees as of March.
09:58 PM PDT on Friday, July 8, 2011
The Press-Enterprise
Staff of the San Bernardino International Airport Authority may discuss the most recent San Bernardino County civil Grand Jury report at the next SBIAA board meeting Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Loma Linda City Hall, according to the next agenda.
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Jan | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |||
| |