Politics, Government and Business in Southern California's Inland Empire
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 – 12:30 p.m.
The California Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two, on Tuesday, upheld a superior court ruling dismissing a lawsuit brought by San Bernardino County against the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association (SBCPAA).
Sunday, March 25, 2012 – 11:50 a.m.
Over a year ago San Bernardino County sued the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association over the union using Deputy District Attorneys to represent Deputy Public Defenders in low level grievance and disciplinary matters.
A practice former Public Defender Doreen Boxer didn’t care for.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 23 February 2012 11:36 PM
San Bernardino County’s former top attorney, who took a year’s worth of vacation before officially retiring last month, tops the list of pension earners among former county employees, according to recently provided data.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 05 January 2012 10:12 PM
Until November 2010, top San Bernardino County employees could rack up an unlimited number of vacation, holiday or administrative hours.
The policy allowed them to stockpile vacation time and earn large payouts when they left the county, said Supervisor Neil Derry, who proposed the cap.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 – 03:00 p.m.
Was it a misunderstanding or a lie?
A regular question in San Bernardino County government.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 – 10:30 a.m.
It’s been more than eleven months since former San Bernardino County Counsel Ruth Stringer supposedly retired from her position.
However, the puzzling issue at hand is the fact that Stringer’s name hasn’t appeared on the retirement roll at the county’s pension fund.
Bill Postmus
Supervisor focused on support for settlement
Mike Cruz and Joe Nelson, Staff Writers
Posted: 08/03/2011 09:17:44 PM PDT
A move to expedite a settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP in 2006 backfired on Bill Postmus, the chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors at the time.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011
By DUG BEGLEY and DAVID DANELSKI
The Press-Enterprise
Lawyers who thought San Bernardino County supervisors were making a mistake in settling with Colonies Partners over a flood control easement had few options other than the vigorous opposition they expressed in meetings, letters and memos to officials, legal experts said.
11:24 PM PDT on Friday, July 22, 2011
By DUG BEGLEY
The Press-Enterprise
Over the objections of every lawyer who ever handled the Colonies case for San Bernardino County, Supervisors Bill Postmus and Paul Biane pushed for a settlement even though they lacked any legal basis, court documents show.
Sunday, July 10, 2009 – 11:25 a.m.
This weekends special report on San Bernardino County’s six-figure pension club was a little surprising.
But only as to the highest annual pension amount.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 – 08:00 p.m.
It seems San Bernardino County’s former chief counsel, who county supervisors forced to leave last year, still hasn’t quite departed from government service.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 – 10:53 a.m.
First it is former County Counsel Ruth Stringer remaining on county payroll burning accrued leave time while continuing to receive full benefits.
Now it appears former county administrative officer Mark Uffer could be doing the same thing.
Friday, May 20, 2011 – 10:53 a.m.
Well it’s been more than six months and a name is still conspicuously absent from San Bernardino County retirement rolls.
Wednesday, March 9, 2010 – 10:45 a.m.
An attempt to settle a dispute between the County of San Bernardino and the union representing county public attorneys failed last month.
More than a year ago, the county filed suit against the San Bernardino Public Attorneys Association over the unions use of Deputy District Attorneys in disciplinary matters, were the issue involved Deputy Public Defenders.
Rutherford
Thursday, January 6, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
Last Updated: January 6, 2011 – 08:25 p.m.
It’s Crunch time!
Just five more days and we’ll all know the answer to the big question.
Will newly-elected County Supervisor Janice Rutherford keep her campaign pledge of ethics and reform, or will it be ‘go along, get along” business as usual?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 – 08:00 a.m.
Talking about someone hanging on.
A review of San Bernardino County retirement rolls for December and January seem to be missing a name.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010 – 08:45 a.m.
News continues to trickle out on a federal probe involving government officials receiving free care at San Bernardino County-owned and operated Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC).
The term ‘government’ versus ‘county’ officials is now more approriate since it appears state-level officials may have also been given ‘V.I.P.’ treatment at the facility free of charge.
But, it gets even better.
Posted: 12/06/2010 09:47:29 PM PST
We have every hope a new era of more open and transparent government has begun for San Bernardino County.
Monday’s swearing-in of Janice Rutherford as the new 2nd District representative on the Board of Supervisors should be one more step on the way to a cleaner, more responsive government for the county.
Sunday, December 5, 2010 – 09:15 a.m.
The actions of San Bernardino County’s outgoing county counsel, who’s last official day was this past Friday, seems to be conveying feelings about her departure that are somewhat different than her public statements.
It seems Ruth Stringer threw a little bash at the Time in a Bottle wine bar in Redlands last Thursday night.
Saturday, November 27, 2010 – 07:00 a.m.
At this point, San Bernardino County’s trumpeted ‘Sunshine Ordinance’, would appear to be nothing of the sort and this time the public was played for a fool.
The measure as drafted, was to provide for great transparency in county government and easier access to records, really fell flat on its face last week.
The short-lived ordinance hadn’t even been in effect for thirty days.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 – 09:00 a.m.
For outgoing county counsel Ruth Stringer, it’s a better Thanksgiving than most of us realized.
Back on November 15th, InlandPolitics.com published a story on Stringer’s pension benefits.
In particular, Stringer’s annual pension is estimated at $271,000.
Monday, November 22, 2010 – 05:30 a.m.
A federal investigation into allegations that various current and former San Bernardino County officials received special “V.I.P.” care at county-owned and operated Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has many people asking one big question.
Why?
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 11/16/2010 06:12:51 PM PST
Officials from across San Bernardino County and within the Government Center gathered inside the Board of Supervisors chambers in San Bernardino on Tuesday to bid farewell to Supervisor Paul Biane and County Counsel Ruth Stringer.
Supervisor-elect Janice Rutherford will take office at noon on Dec. 6. Jean-Rene Basle, a longtime county attorney and former competitive figure skater, will replace Stringer the first week of December.
Monday, November 15, 2010 – 11:25 a.m.
Last Updated: November 16, 2010 – 07:00 a.m.
Tuesday the San Bernadino County Board of Supervisors will honor outgoing county counsel Ruth Stringer with a resolution commending her for 32 years of service to the county.
Even though the board really showed Stringer to the door.
Stringer’s motivation for not wanting to leave now has all to do with one thing. Her pension.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 – 9:28 a.m.
Is the District Attorney really calling the shots in the investigation involving activities at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC)?
The evidence is building, and it’s beginning to look more and more like the answer is “no”.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 – 07:19 a.m.
Information on last weeks FBI raid at San Bernardino County-owned and operated Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) continues to trickle out.
Last weekend, The Insider learned that records related to the wife of a former chief of staff to a county supervisor were being sought.
Saturday, November 6, 2010 – 12:20 p.m.
Last Updated: November 6, 2010 – 05:30 p.m.
Now the lid has finally blown on the scandal at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC).
What a surprise to us all.
Well, not really.
09:01 PM PDT on Friday, November 5, 2010
By LORA HINES and IMRAN GHOR
The Press-Enterprise
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for at least two years waived or reduced copayments and deductibles for hospital and San Bernardino County employees, hospital-affiliated doctors and others.
The discounts were allowed under a policy dated May 23, 2008, and signed by hospital Chief Financial Officer Frank Arambula. San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux ended the practice in April after he discovered it never received required approval from the county Board of Supervisors.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/05/2010 07:37:55 PM PDT
A raid at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center by FBI agents and district attorney’s investigators is the latest in a series of controversies that have vexed the county hospital in Colton in the last year.
Authorities have refused to divulge specifics of the investigation, leaving the public and San Bernardino County officials wondering why a plethora of documents were seized from the hospital on Thursday.
Tuesday, September 5, 2010 – 3:00 p.m.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors appointed assistant county counsel Jean-Renee Basle as their new county counsel on Tuesday morning.
Basle replaces Ruth Stringer who announced her retirement last week.
Ramos
By PE News
on October 5, 2010 11:57 AM
San Bernardino County supervisors approved the hiring of an outside law firm to defend District Attorney Mike Ramos in a sexual harassment lawsuit by a former investigative technician who worked in his office.
Cheryl Ristow of Redlands filed a $1.5 million lawsuit last month against Ramos, claiming they had an affair that ended in 2005. She said she was retaliated against when it appeared the affair would become public.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/04/2010 03:41:11 PM PDT
Ruth Stringer, who has served as San Bernardino County government’s top lawyer for about four years, has announced plans to retire.
“The office of County Counsel has been a fantastic place to have a career in legal practice,” Stringer, 61, said.
Stringer has not set a date for her final day in office, but hopes to be retired around December, she said.
10:00 PM PDT on Friday, October 1, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County Counsel Ruth Stringer announced Friday that she plans to retire after almost four years as the county’s top legal adviser.
Stringer, who has been with the county for more than 30 years and county counsel since March 2007, said the decision to retire was her own and that she was not pressured to leave by the Board of Supervisors, to whom she reports.
Friday, October 1, 2010 – 8:00 p.m.
Is San Bernardino County ready to commence the process to replace its lead attorney next week?
Indications are there.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010 – 11:00 a.m.
Last Updated: September 28, 2010 – 12:50 p.m.
Today, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors received a message from their chief legal counsel.
Sunday, September 26, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.
Will San Bernardino County’s lead attorney retire as scheduled?
Sources say County Counsel Ruth Stringer, who is expected to announce her retirement this week, is actively trying to delay her forced departure.
Derry
Friday, September 24, 2010 – 10:45 a.m.
A revised ‘Sunshine Ordinance’ will be up for consideration at next Tuesday’s meeting of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.
Third District Supervisor Neil Derry was forced to pull his previous proposal after it fell under criticism for continuing to allow officials the ability to claim the dubious “deliberative process privilege” for the sole purpose of shielding their records, including credit card charges, from taxpayers.
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, September 13, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County supervisors are putting off discussion of a “sunshine ordinance” aimed at increasing public access to government meetings and documents so that officials can fine-tune the proposal.
The Board of Supervisors had been scheduled to discuss it at today’s meeting but Supervisor Neil Derry, who introduced the ordinance, said Monday that he plans to delay consideration for two weeks.
Saturday, September 11, 2010 – 10:30 a.m.
Last Updated: September 11, 2001 – 01:30 p.m.
This Tuesday, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will consider the adoption of a so-called ‘Sunshine Ordinance’ proposed by Third District Supervisor Neil Derry.
Something The Sun newspaper hailed this week as a major change towards greater transparency in San Bernardino County government.
It seems the newspaper, along with the rest of us, were in fact duped. The current proposal may as well be toilet paper. The word “toothless” comes to mind.
Derry
Posted: 09/09/2010 08:05:09 PM PDT
Supervisor Neil Derry’s sunshine ordinance aims to make a fundamental change in San Bernardino County culture when it comes to government documents.
The proposal the Board of Supervisors will review on Tuesday would, if effective, reverse the mind-set of county leaders on who owns access to public documents. The ordinance would mandate that all government documents are presumed public, and put the burden on county government to show why the documents are exempt from that law, according to George Watson, Derry’s chief of staff.
By Joe Nelson Staff Writer
Posted: 09/02/2010 06:07:09 PM PDT
Eleven San Bernardino County employees and elected officials are scheduled to give depositions this month in relation to a lawsuit filed by former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer.
The scheduled depositions are subject to change. County spokesman David Wert is one of them. He said his scheduled deposition Sept. 28 falls on the day of a Board of Supervisors meeting, and he’ll have to reschedule.
Sunday, August 22, 2010 – 05:00 am
Former San Bernardino County chief executive Mark Uffer wasn’t really known for his common sense.
His lawsuit against the county is a prime example.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 – 11:00 pm
The San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association (SBCERA) has refused a local newspapers request to release a list of its pensioner’s who receive payments of $90,000 or more per year.
Is anyone really surprised? After all it is San Bernardino County right?
Thursday, August 12, 2010 – 11:00 pm
A recommendation by county lawyers that San Bernardino County appeal a superior court judges decision awarding one of its labor unions its legal costs is ridiculous to say the least.
Last year, County Counsel Ruth Stringer and Public Defender Doreen Boxer convinced the Board of Supervisors to file a lawsuit against the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association (SBCPAA) over it’s discipline and grievance representation practices. Basically, Boxer doesn’t want Deputy District Attorneys representing Deputy Public Defenders.
Friday, August 6, 2010 – 10:00 pm
A Superior Court Judge has ordered San Bernardino County to pay legal costs to one of its unions.
Last year San Bernardino County Public Defender Doreen Boxer and County Counsel Ruth Stringer persuaded county supervisors to take legal action to force the San Bernardino County Public Attorneys Association to cease using its Deputy District Attorney members in grievance and disciplinary representation of its Deputy Public Defender members.
Sunday, August 1, 2010 – 2:30 pm
.
Two of San Bernardino County’s three top lawyers are reportedly on their way out.
Previously reported here is the anticipated departure of Public Defender Doreen Boxer. Now add County Counsel Ruth Stringer.
Finally!
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.
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