10:49 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

By DAVID OLSON and BEN GOAD
The Press-Enterprise

The sharply divergent reactions that Inland residents had to a federal judge’s ruling Wednesday blocking full enforcement of Arizona’s tough anti-illegal-immigration law mirrored the outrage and joy expressed nationwide.

Lake Elsinore Mayor Melissa Melendez blasted the decision. “If that’s what they’ve done, and they’ve usurped the authority of the state of Arizona, then I am completely ashamed and appalled at what they are doing,” Melendez said.

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L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in

July 28, 2010 | 5:31 pm

Three highly paid administrators in Bell will not be permitted to draw their state pensions until the attorney general determines whether the city broke the law in awarding the hefty paychecks, according to an official with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

“CalPERS is concerned about the situation, and our intention is to not [to] entertain applications for pensions from any of these people until the investigation is complete,” said Pat Macht, the agency’s external affairs director.

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The ruling halts implementation of provisions that require police to determine the immigration status of people they stop and suspect of being in the U.S. illegally. An immediate appeal is expected.

By Nicholas Riccardi and Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times

July 28, 2010 | 5:50 p.m.

Reporting from Phoenix and Tucson —

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked most of a controversial Arizona immigration law just hours before it was to take effect, handing the Obama administration a win in the first stage of a legal battle expected to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton in Phoenix issued a temporary injunction against parts of the law that would require police to determine the status of people they lawfully stopped and suspected were in the country illegally.

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Yes, Attorney General Jerry Brown repeatedly claims he’s all over the City of Bell salary scandal.

Brown’s office has subpoenaed thousands of city records. He’s giving city officials twenty-four hours to turn them over.

Otherwise one can infer search warrants will be the order of the day.

Read the rest of this entry »

Steve Cooley

Investigators are looking into allegations of voter fraud and conflicts of interest, as well as the $100,000 salaries paid to four council members. The D.A. says several elections are targeted.

By Richard Winton, Jeff Gottlieb and Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times

July 28, 2010

Los Angeles County prosecutors have launched a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of voter fraud and conflicts of interest involving municipal business in Bell, Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said Tuesday.

In an interview with The Times, Cooley described an investigation considerably larger in scope than previously acknowledged by prosecutors, saying that it was “multifaceted, rapidly expanding and full-fledged.” Investigators have been gathering evidence since March, he said.

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11:11 AM PDT on Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Former Grand Terrace City Councilman Jim Miller pleaded guilty this morning to a misdemeanor charge stemming from payments he voted to approve to his wife’s weekly newspaper.

Miller pleaded guilty to having a financial interest by a state or local official in a government contract. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a felony conflict of interest charge, which could have included prison time.

Read the rest of this entry »

L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in

July 27, 2010 | 2:13 pm

A lawsuit filed Monday by a former Bell police officer makes a variety of serious allegations about city officials and suggests voter fraud in a 2009 election.

According to the lawsuit, filed by James Corcoran, off-duty police officers in Bell distributed absentee ballots in a 2009 municipal election and told would-be voters which candidates to support.

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown is apparently becoming a little sensitive to criticisms he is using his official capacity of Attorney General as a campaign platform.

In a Los Angeles Times story yesterday, Brown defended his investigation into pay practices in the City of Bell, deflecting allegations by the Meg Whitman campaign, that his actions were a campaign stunt.

Maybe someone should ask Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley. The man with the tire tracks across his back.

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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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hudson

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 26, 2010

By ALICIA ROBINSON
The Press-Enterprise

Riverside City Manager Brad Hudson may face tough questions today from his bosses on the City Council when they meet behind closed doors to discuss his performance.

Several council members said they have concerns about the sale of Police Department guns in 2005 to Hudson and Assistant City Manager Tom De Santis and city officials’ use of nearly untraceable license plates reserved for police work.

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Crime | Government | Medical marijuana | Education | Prop 8 | Traffic | Westside
L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in

July 26, 2010 | 7:37 am

The embattled Bell City Council will meet Monday night to consider cutting council member pay, which is now considered significantly higher than that of other cities of the same size.

The move comes three days after the council announced the resignations of three top city administrators, including the city manager who was making nearly $800,000 a year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brown

Today, Attorney General, oops! I mean democratic candidate for Governor Edmund “Jerry” Brown was campaigning on the Bell pension fiasco vis press conference.

Yes indeed. Another “high-profile” issue has handed Brown a platform to campaign from for “free”.

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Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/25/2010 08:06:37 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – The move to amend the City Charter can be viewed as a debate over how to run the city – or just another smackdown between leaders who cannot get along.

The proposal to change the charter would give the City Council, with the mayor’s consent, power to appoint the city attorney, city clerk and city treasurer.

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July 25, 2010 11:00 AM
Natasha Lindstrom

ADELANTO • Two alternative energy companies slated to launch biodiesel production plants in Adelanto have both abandoned their local projects, city officials said.

One company is now embattled in a civil suit against a property owner. The other quietly abandoned operations after securing the city’s approval, leaving some of its private investors in the dark.

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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 05:00 pm

From District Attorney investigators recently pulling time card records of at least one current high-profile County Government Center employee, to pre-election day cover-ups, to intrigue surrounding the Public Defender’s office disqualifying itself in the conspiracy case involving former Assessor Bill Postmus, things are about to start stirring in San Bernardino County political and legal circles.

Much is happening these days.

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Friday, July 23, 2010 – 03:47 pm
Updated: Saturday, July 24, 2010 – 09:25 am

Sources tell InlandPolitics that San Bernardino County has taken attorney-client privilege to a new level.

In San Bernardino County only, the amount of taxpayer money spent on outside counsel is privileged.

Read the rest of this entry »

Paul Zellerbach

10:00 PM PDT on Friday, July 23, 2010

By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY
The Press-Enterprise

More than six weeks after voters made him Riverside County district attorney-elect, Paul Zellerbach has started his transition by meeting with employees, talking to county officials and reviewing the department’s policies

But Zellerbach, a Riverside County superior court judge, says he hasn’t spoken to Rod Pacheco, the man he is replacing in January.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/23/2010 05:57:50 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDIN0 – In a motion seeking dismissal of state charges of extortion and bribery against former San Bernardino County assistant assessor Jim Erwin, Erwin’s attorney claims state and county prosecutors have failed to clearly state the charges, thereby thwarting Erwin’s ability to properly defend himself.

Criminal defense attorney Rajan R. Maline on Friday filed the motion in San Bernardino Superior Court, in which he also alleges that the three-year statute of limitations has expired for the offenses in which both Erwin and former county Assessor Bill Postmus stand accused.

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L.A. NOW
Southern California — this just in

July 23, 2010 | 12:33 am

Bell’s top administrators, whose hefty salaries have stirred public outrage and calls for investigations, agreed to resign Thursday night during a closed-door City Hall meeting.

City Manager Robert Rizzo, Police Chief Randy Adams and Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia will not receive severance packages. Rizzo will step down at the end of August and Spaccia will leave at the end of September. Adams will also leave at the end of August, after completing an evaluation of the Police Department.

Read the rest of this entry »

July 22, 2010 5:42 PM
Beau Yarbrough

HESPERIA • Two weeks after a school board meeting that abruptly ended with board members taunting one another and calling each other names, the board will try again on Monday to finish their July agenda.

At the July 12 meeting of the Hesperia Unified School District school board, board members returned from a second period of closed-doors discussions determined to get through the 13 points remaining undone in the first four hours of the meeting.

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By Jeff Gottlieb Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

July 22, 2010 | 3:59 p.m.

The highly paid members of the Bell City Council were able to exempt themselves from state salary limits through a little-noticed city ballot measure during a special election that attracted fewer than 400 voters.

Council members in Bell earn nearly $100,000 – a salary that has prompted an inquiry by the Los Angeles County district attorney. A state law enacted in 2005 limits the pay of council members in “general law” cities, a reform prompted by the high salaries that leaders in the neighboring city of South Gate bestowed on themselves.

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Thursday, July 22, 2010 – 11:27 am

It’s time for republican Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman to clearly articulate her positions on each element of the illegal immigration issue.

Her post-primary campaign strategy has created some bumps in the road with some of the republican base. A potential problem if it continues.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/21/2010 06:06:11 PM PDT

Prosecutors may present some of their evidence of malfeasance by two former top officials in the county Assessor’s Office at a hearing next month, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Former Assessor Bill Postmus and Gregory Eyler, former taxpayer advocate, were scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 12 during their appearances in San Bernardino Superior Court.

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Posted By: Drew Joseph | July 21 2010 at 03:07 PM

Don’t be surprised if Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown might just want to tout that draft report — currently being circulated by the campaign of Republican Meg Whitman — that names him the “worst” AG in the country. That’s because it comes from a Washington-based conservative organization that critics say have fought regulations on just about everything from drug safety to auto emissions.

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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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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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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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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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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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, 50, would be the first Asian American to lead the state’s judiciary and give the court a female majority for the first time in history.

By Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times

July 21, 2010

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to name 3rd District Court of Appeal Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye as the next chief justice, making her the first Asian American to lead the state’s judiciary and giving the California Supreme Court a female majority for the first time in its history.

Cantil-Sakauye, 50, a Sacramento native who rose through the trial courts, served as deputy legislative secretary and deputy legal affairs secretary under former Gov. George Deukmejian. He plucked her from the Sacramento district attorney’s office and later appointed her to the Sacramento Municipal Court.

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Another entry from the website tracking report.

Villalobos

By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 6B
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2010 – 8:26 am

RENO – Alfred Villalobos, the former CalPERS board member accused of bribery, said Monday he plans to sue the pension fund for spreading lies about him.

Villalobos said he will sue the California Public Employees’ Retirement System for $10 million, though he didn’t say when. “You know that they lied publicly and said things that weren’t true,” he said in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

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By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 6B
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2010 – 8:29 am

CalPERS was sued Monday by the First Amendment Coalition over its refusal to turn over documents relating to a controversial real estate investment.

The nonprofit coalition sued in San Francisco Superior Court, seeking documents concerning the California Public Employees’ Retirement System’s ill-fated $100 million investment in Page Mill Properties, a collection of rental houses in East Palo Alto.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ramos

Almost six months ago, on two seperate occasions, local private criminal attorney’s personally approached San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos with a complaint.

What was done about the complaints to Ramos? Nothing.

Why? The complaint involved supporters of the District Attorney.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lori Consalvo, Staff Writer
Created: 07/18/2010 02:16:01 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – A search warrant was served at a bail bond business after sheriff’s deputies received word that bail agents were violating solicitation rules.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s detectives and investigators from the Department of Insurance served a search warrant Thursday at Bail Hotline Bail Bonds, 8821 Etiwanda Ave.

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Lobbyists play huge role in bills
Karen de Sa, San Jose Mercury News
Created: 07/17/2010 07:10:37 AM PDT

Like all newly elected lawmakers, Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes arrived in Sacramento needing two things to ensure his political success: legislative achievements and campaign money.

If he established himself as a political force, the Los Angeles-area Democrat might breeze to re-election in two years and rise up the legislative ranks. And sure enough, there were folks who could help him along – the throng of lobbyists offering bill ideas on behalf of their corporate clients.

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Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/15/2010 06:34:03 PM PDT

FONTANA – The City Council approved a resolution Wednesday night against a November ballot proposition that would legalize marijuana for those 21 and over.

Officials passed the resolution against Proposition 19, the so-called Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, which aims to legalize marijuana use in a similar way as alcohol.

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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.

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A Project of the Center for Investigative Reporting
Money and Politics
California WatchBlog

July 15, 2010 | Lance Williams

To conceal the fearsome prospective impact of California’s pension bomb from the taxpayers, bureaucrats sometimes play hide the ball.

When they do, it’s up to open-government advocates to drag them into court and make them do the right thing.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:41 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

By GAIL WESSON
The Press-Enterprise

Four of the five San Jacinto City Council members will face a recall election after the Riverside County registrar of voters office certified Wednesday that enough valid signatures had been collected on petitions to trigger an election.

The targets of the recall — Mayor Dale Stubblefield and Councilmen Jim Ayres, John Mansperger and Jim Potts — are defendants in a political corruption case pending in Riverside County court.

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Chief Justice Ronald George

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
July 14, 2010

CHIEF RONALD GEORGE.JPGCalifornia Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George announced today that he will step down in January instead of seeking another term on the bench.

George, who served in the courts for nearly four decades, has been chief justice since 1996. He was first appointed to the state supreme court in 1991 by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson.

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Brown

***Editor’s Note: Once again democratic Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, who is falling in the polls against rival republican Meg Whitman, has once again filed a lawsuit and sought to garner publicity. This time federally-backed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the whipping posts for Brown. The following afternoon story in the Sacramento Bee is the latest episode.

The big question is who will be charged or sued next?

________________________________________________________________________________

Brown sues federal housing giants over home energy improvement program

By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 14, 2010 – 2:11 pm
Last Modified: Wednesday, Jul. 14, 2010 – 3:29 pm

California Attorney Jerry Brown today sued federal mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for blocking green home improvement financing programs that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and would create thousands of clean-tech jobs.

In a filing in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Brown said the federal agencies have ignored California law and wrongly characterized the programs in shutting them down.

Read the rest of this entry »

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!

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

By DAVID DANELSKI and ALICIA ROBINSON
The Press-Enterprise

The city of Riverside has a spotty record when it comes to providing information sought under the state public records law.

In some instances, city officials appear to go beyond the call of duty to follow the spirit of California Public Records Act, a state law that requires most state and local government records to be disclosed following requests.

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10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

An agreement setting out a schedule of payments that Jurupa would make to Riverside County should residents of the unincorporated community opt to become a city was approved 5-0 Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

The document, known as a revenue neutrality agreement, would see a city of Jurupa pay Riverside County about $9.8 million over six years, and then an increasing percentage of sales and property tax to cover fire protection and other services the county would continue to provide.

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Environmental report goes to judge
July 13, 2010 4:53 PM
By Jessica Cejnar, staff writer

SAN BERNARDINO • Nursery Products won approval from the county a second time to build a sewage sludge composting facility about eight miles west of Hinkley.

Three members of the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors approved Nursery Products’ conditional use permit Tuesday. Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales dissented. Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ovitt was absent.

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www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
July 12th, 2010 at 9:00 am

It is said that the love of money is the root of all evil and human behavior certainly suggests that the adoration of the almighty greenback brings about the demise of many a man. When we come across a panhandler on the street, some of us will throw change his way while others will look in the opposite direction, assuming he is trying to mislead us and get something for nothing.

The same goes for charities and non-profits. Some of us take the good works they tout at face value while others look at all who ask for money with skepticism.

Read the rest of this entry »

July 11, 2010 8:34 AM
By Jessica Cejnar, staff writer

HINKLEY • A citizens group opposing a proposed sewage sludge composting facility near Hinkley will go before the Board of Supervisors Tuesday in an effort to get the conditional use permit for the project revoked.

This is the second time Nursery Products’ Hinkley project has gone before the Board of Supervisors. County staff is recommending the Board approve the project’s conditional use permit, saying the benefits outweigh the potential impacts. The county initially approved of the facility in 2007.

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Jesse B. Gill, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/11/2010 02:42:55 PM PDT

The Fair Political Practices Commission is taking its time to review a matter brought to it by City Councilman Mick Gallagher.

Gallagher had requested a determination as to whether his rental of a Redlands home to his son, Ryan, who works for the city as a firefighter, constitutes a conflict of interest.

Read the rest of this entry »

The ongoing saga involving San Bernardino County supervisor Paul Biane and his apparently former chief of staff Matt Brown just keeps getting better and better.

During our last update we informed you that Brown was reportedly balking at taking a position in the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office.

Sources at the time were telling InlandPolitics.com Brown wanted his legal bills paid for by the county.

Now we have learned of a new request.

Read the rest of this entry »

www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
July 10th, 2010 at 11:06 pm

It doesn’t seem to matter if we are discussing Jeff Burum, the Lewis Family, or any other of a number of successful, wealthy businessmen in our community, they are all “corrupt.” I don’t mean that they are really, truly corrupt, but they are “corrupt” in the minds of the less successful. The common thought seems to be that if one has money, then one has no integrity. Our community doesn’t allow for making an “honest” hundred million or so. Hard work, sacrifice, intellect, college education, and just plain good old-fashioned luck can all be damned. If one is successful, then one must be a crook.

Read the rest of this entry »

www.iepolitics.com

Written by La Cochita
July 9th, 2010 at 5:35 pm

David Ellis is the founder of the Dave Ellis Group and Delta Partners, LLC, a full-service government relations and public affairs firm located in Orange County, California. He is San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos’ campaign consultant and political advisor.

Not long after Sam Clauder’s arrest on child porn charges, Ellis was at an event where he was overheard saying, “I think we have Clauder right where we want him,” referring to Clauder’s arrest and incarceration. Remember, Sam Clauder was a Democratic operative and vocal opponent of Mike Ramos and other San Bernardino County Republicans.

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John “JP” Pomierski

Cloud over Upland

Mayor’s future is on the line
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/10/2010 07:08:31 AM PDT

UPLAND – Mayor John “JP” Pomierski was elected by Upland voters to save the city from the verge of bankruptcy.

The citizens trusted his abilities as an Upland businessman to lead them to the financial stability the city enjoys now, 10 years later.

But his own business dealings have come under scrutiny by federal investigators. A June 10 raid by FBI and IRS agents on Pomierski’s home, City Hall and two local businesses has left residents questioning the integrity of the mayor who helped pull the city out of its fiscal darkness, and wondering what his future might be.

Read the rest of this entry »

Raids by the FBI, IRS came as `big surprise’
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 07/10/2010 07:08:27 AM PDT

UPLAND – A recent raid by FBI and IRS agents at the mayor’s home and City Hall may have some residents wondering who their mayor is.

John “JP” Pomierski has been mayor since 2000. Most of the news coming out of the city has been related to finances and development, but on June 10 the focus changed to Pomierski himself.

Read the rest of this entry »

11:33 AM PDT on Friday, July 9, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

A Superior Court judge Friday ordered Riverside County elections officials to count 12,563 disputed mail-in ballots and include the results in the final tally from the June 8 primary.

County officials began counting the votes shortly after Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mac R. Fisher issued his ruling and expect to complete the task by tonight.

Read the rest of this entry »

In contrast to earlier results, 48% of likely voters are now against Proposition 19, survey finds.

By John Hoeffel, Los Angeles Times

July 10, 2010

Californians who intend to vote in November narrowly oppose Proposition 19, which would make the state the first to legalize marijuana possession and sales, according to a recent survey.

The Field Poll found that 48% of likely voters oppose the measure and 44% support it, a contrast with two polls taken in May that showed voters were leaning slightly in favor of the measure.

Read the rest of this entry »

Point of View

Richard Grenell
Created: 07/08/2010 07:52:54 PM PDT

In the aftermath of the announcement that District Attorney Mike Ramos’ team failed miserably to prove that Rex Gutierrez participated in a conspiracy or lied on his time card, there was one little-noticed comment that stood out.

Assistant District Attorney Jim Hackleman, Mike Ramos’ appointed hatchet man, accidentally confirmed a suspicion many San Bernardino County residents had suspected for many months. Hackleman was asked by the media if the DA’s Office would seek a re-trial of their failed and costly conspiracy case and his comments were very telling. Hackleman proved just who was driving this wild political investigation when he said, “We’re going to sit down with our partners in the Attorney General’s office and will thoroughly review and refine our case with them.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Rex Gutierrez

08:44 AM PDT on Thursday, July 8, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

Former San Bernardino County assessor’s official Rex Gutierrez will be retried starting Aug. 30 on corruption charges.

Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse scheduled the new trial at a brief hearing Wednesday. A pre-trial conference will be held Aug 6.

Read the rest of this entry »

Boxer

Widely covered in numerous stories at iepolitics.com is the dissension within the San Bernardino County Public Defenders Office.

Clearly, various personnel and managerial miscues in recent months has cast a spotlight on the department. A department with such great responsibility to criminal defendants must perform at an optimum level. The Public Defender must garner trust and also possess the skill necessary to maintain client confidence in their legal counsel.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gutierrez

A new trial date has been set for Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez.

During a status conference yesterday, Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse set a pre-trial hearing for August 6th and a new jury trial for August 30th.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:02 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 7, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG, LAURIE LUCAS and JIM MILLER
The Press-Enterprise

Moreno Valley resident Naomi Ingram didn’t want to miss out on last month’s election. Voting is her civic duty.

She tucked her ballot into her purse as she rushed to Texas to see her godmother, who has terminal cancer. She mailed it from Dallas five days before the June 8 primary.

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10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 6, 2010

By ALICIA ROBINSON
The Press-Enterprise

While some shows in the Riverside Fox Performing Arts Center’s first season played to sold-out crowds and others had unimpressive ticket sales, many shows had one thing in common: city officials sitting in the audience for free.

Riverside elected officials attended events at the Fox 48 times during the inaugural season, from the Jan. 15 opening gala to a June 5 performance by Bill Cosby, according to information on the city website.

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10:16 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 6, 2010

By GENE GHIOTTO
The Press-Enterprise

A Lake Elsinore businessman and one of his former employees pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that they conspired to hide the businessman’s involvement in the failed recall attempt of a city councilman.

Michel Knight, owner of Trevi Entertainment Center, and Enelida “Nellie” Caron, who worked at Trevi, entered their pleas before Superior Court Judge Richard Fields in Riverside.

Read the rest of this entry »

D.C. Now
News from Washington, minute by minute
July 6, 2010 | 1:01 pm

With the Justice Department filing suit against Arizona’s new law on immigration on Tuesday, the latest poll shows that Americans remain divided on whether the government should focus on halting the flow of illegal immigrants into the country or developing a plan to deal with those who are already in the U.S.

The Justice Department filed suit in Arizona, arguing that the law violates the federal government’s authority to establish policy on immigration. Technically, the federal government is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent Arizona from enforcing the law when it goes into effect July 29.

Read the rest of this entry »

Arnold Schwarzenegger

PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State

July 6, 2010 | 3:45 pm

The court battle over the size of state worker paychecks continues.

The Schwarzenegger administration submitted a court petition Tuesday in Sacramento County Superior Court seeking an injunction to force state Controller John Chiang to slash the wages of roughly 200,000 state workers.

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10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, July 4, 2010

The Press-Enterprise

Not only is a judge expected to decide Friday on the fate of 12,563 late-arriving mail ballots, but Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore has fielded a number of public records requests relating to the June 8 election.

Former Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron, who unsuccessfully challenged Supervisor John Benoit, filed a two-page request.

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Gutierrez

Jurors’ remarks provide encouragement
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/03/2010 09:50:18 PM PDT

Prosecutors say they are not deterred by their failure to convict Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez and are convinced they’ll do better the second time around.

Assistant District Attorney Jim Hackleman said prosecutors had a chance to talk to jurors following the mistrial that was declared Wednesday in the two-week trial of Gutierrez, 50, who is charged with two felony counts of grand theft and one felony count of filing a false claim.

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Ramos

InlandPolitics.com has learned that five more women have come forward against San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos.

Additional details will be forthcoming during the next 72 hours.

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/02/2010 05:50:30 PM PDT

SAN BERNARDINO – A vote on the City Charter will be an opportunity for the electorate to decide if they can trust the City Council to choose a trio of key city officials – or if they want to keep that power for themselves.

A narrowly-divided City Council has set the stage for a City Charter amendment that would give the council authority to select the City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer.

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10:00 PM PDT on Friday, July 2, 2010

By JANET ZIMMERMAN
The Press-Enterprise

A century-old oversight by the federal government was remedied this week when the Chemehuevi Indians were finally given official title to their 32,500-acre reservation along the Colorado River in eastern San Bernardino County.

Officials explained a missing signature on the 1907 document — a trust patent — as a “historical anomaly,” said Jan Bedrosian, spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

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10:00 PM PDT on Friday, July 2, 2010

San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos began his year-long term as president of the California District Attorneys’ Association Thursday.

The group, whose membership is made up of district attorneys across the state, meets in Monterey this weekend for its semi-annual conference.

Read the rest of this entry »

Controller John Chiang

By Jon Ortiz and Kevin Yamamura
jortiz@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Jul. 3, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Saturday, Jul. 3, 2010 – 12:12 am

The decision is in. The fight isn’t over.

Sacramento’s 3rd District Court of Appeal on Friday upheld a 17-month-old ruling allowing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to order state workers’ pay reduced to minimum wage in the absence of a budget.

Although the state is now three days into the new fiscal year with no budget and the governor has instructed more than 200,000 government employees’ pay lowered to the federal minimum, the ultimate impact of the court decision is far from clear.

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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.

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www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
July 1st, 2010 at 4:56 pm

As I read various blog comments and accounts of Rancho Cucamonga City Councilman and former San Bernardino County Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez’ corruption trial and non-verdict, I realize the magnitude of what happened Wednesday is lost on most. Let me explain.

The District Attorney pulled out all stops to keep this case from going to trial any sooner than necessary due to his re-election campaign and fear certain information might come out during the trial. Gutierrez refused to waive time further. The District Attorney used every procedural delay available and the trial did not commence until the last possible moment. The District Attorney was hoping a smoking gun would materialize but it never did. The District Attorney’s hand was forced.

Read the rest of this entry »

10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, July 1, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County prosecutors didn’t have any second thoughts about retrying a corruption case that ended in a mistrial, a district attorney’s official said Thursday.

Prosecutors made the announcement only minutes after Superior Court Judge Duke Rouse declared a mistrial in the criminal case against Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez. The state attorney general’s office, co-prosecuting the case, joined a statement supporting the decision.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rex Gutierrez

Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 07/01/2010 04:37:59 PM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Feeling optimistic and vindicated, Councilman Rex Gutierrez on Thursday announced he will seek re-election to the City Council in November.

A San Bernardino Superior Court jury on Wednesday failed to reach a verdict on Gutierrez’s criminal trial, leading Judge Duke Rouse to declare a mistrial. The outcome spelled relief for the embattled councilman, who was confident enough to announce his wish to remain on the City Council.

Read the rest of this entry »

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
July 1, 2010

A Riverside County judge has set a hearing for July 9 to determine the fate of more than 12,500 primary ballots that went uncounted in the county.

Jim Miller reports in the Press-Enterprise that the judge also ordered Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore to hold off on certifying the results until the case is settled.

Read the rest of this entry »

District Attorney Mike Ramos / Attorney General Jerry Brown

.

Thursday, July 1, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.

Once thing is for certain.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos drawing Attorney General Jerry Brown into his crusade against his political enemies was a smart move.

Even though Defendant Jim Erwin pushed him into it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gutierrez

10:21 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 30, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the criminal corruption case against Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez after a jury deadlocked on a verdict.

In a brief comment as he left the courtroom, Deputy District Attorney John Goritz said the office plans to retry Gutierrez.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cortes

Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/30/2010 02:36:57 PM PDT

A Grand Terrace councilwoman who sought a permanent restraining order against a resident she claimed was harassing her withdrew the request Wednesday in San Bernardino Superior Court.

The request by Bea Cortes would have barred Kay Moore from all Grand Terrace council meetings, City Hall, city events and other locations if it had been granted. But Cortes said she decided against pursuing it, opting to steer clear of a restaurant Moore frequents.

Read the rest of this entry »

Elrod

Councilman makes no-contest plea
Lori Consalvo, Staff Writer
Created: 06/30/2010 09:12:53 PM PDT

CHINO – Councilman Earl Elrod on Wednesday pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge and received probation and a fine.

Elrod was not present in Chino Superior Court for the arraignment, but attorney David Goldstein made the plea on the councilman’s behalf.

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June 30, 2010 5:49 PM

SAN BERNARDINO • Judge Duke D. Rouse declared a mistrial Wednesday in the corruption case of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez, who’s accused of defrauding taxpayers while working in the San Bernardino County Assessor’s office under Bill Postmus.

Prosecutors argued Gutierrez, 50, worked on Rancho Cucamonga matters on county time and filed false time cards during his 22 months as intergovernmental relations officer in the Assessor’s office. He faced two felony counts of grand theft of more than $400 and one felony count of filing a false claim.

Read the rest of this entry »

By PE Politics
on June 30, 2010 4:06 PM

The Riverside County Democratic Party and three voters filed a lawsuit today over the more than 12,500 ballots that have not been counted in the June 8 election.

In the lawsuit, Moreno Valley residents Naomi Ingram, Sherry Lynn Riegel and Jennifer Christina Riegel contend they mailed ballots on time. But the registrar of voters failed to pick up their ballots from a U.S. Postal Service facility in Moreno Valley due to a miscommunication, they said in the lawsuit.

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Aleman

Breaking news here. The jury in the Rex Gutierrez trial didn’t believe key prosecution witness Adam Aleman.

Wow, no kidding.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gutierrez

Joe Nelson and Mike Cruz, Staff Writers
Posted: 06/30/2010 04:06:38 PM PDT

A mistrial has been declared in the trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez.

The 11-woman, one-man jury voted 7-5 and 8-4 in favor of convictions on Gutierrez’s two felony charges of grand theft and 9-3 in favor of conviction on one felony count of filing a false claim.

Jurors began deliberations on Monday.

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The jury in the trial of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez announced it was at an impasse Wednesday afternoon.

Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse declared a mistrial and sent the jury home after being informed a unanimous verdict could not be reached.

The jury, consisting of 11 women and 1 man, could not reach a verdict on any of the felony charges, consisting of two counts of grand theft and one count of filing a false claim.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sources tell InlandPolitics.com that Matt Brown, chief of staff for county supervisor Paul Biane has been offered a position with Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Walker.

But it seems Brown is balking at taking the job.

Read the rest of this entry »

The jury in the Rex Gutierrez case will commence their third day of deliberations at 9:30 a.m.

Expect a verdict if there is going to be one. After today the probability of a mistrial increases.

Stay tuned.

Another interesting aspect of today’s deliberations in the Rex Gutierrez trial was the request for testimony read-back by the jury.

The jury requested the court reporter read-back testimony of the defendant.

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***This post was updated and revised late Tuesday night after the receipt of clarification on the jury’s inquiry. A completely different line of inquiry occurred than that originally published***

The jury deliberating the fate of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez ended its first full day of deliberations with no verdict and a couple questions for the court and attorneys.

Read the rest of this entry »

PolitiCal
On politics in the Golden State

June 29, 2010 | 2:43 pm

The Fair Political Practices Commission has begun an investigation to determine whether Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has accepted thousands of dollars in free tickets to sporting events, awards shows and concerts, was engaging in his “ceremonial role or duty” when he accepted those gifts, officials said Tuesday.

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Cortes

www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
June 29th, 2010 at 7:56 pm

Here is the order:  Councilperson Cortes v. Moore Note:  There are two separate files when you open the document.  The first is the application and the second is the order.

A couple of things are noteworthy.  First, the order is for 100 yards and includes city hall, city functions, etc.  The defendant is a resident of  Grand Terrace and this order basically denies her right to participate in city government or even pay her trash bill in person.  If this order is made permanent, she would not be allowed to attend a 4th of July event if the city is sponsoring one, or a Christmas pageant, or a parade.

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Jury deliberations to determine the fate of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez has reconvened.

Gutierrez faces three felony charges related to alleged time card fraud during his employment under former Assessor Bill Postmus.

Pomierski

Word on the street has it that Upland Mayor John “JP” Pomierski is in serious trouble.

The kind of trouble you don’t resurrect yourself from.

Not the weak politically motivated stuff. More like the smoking gun category.

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Rex Gutierrez

10:27 PM PDT on Monday, June 28, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

The first case to go to trial in a corruption investigation against five San Bernardino County officials went to the jury Monday.

In his closing arguments before a packed courtroom, defense attorney James Reiss called his client Rex Gutierrez a pawn in prosecutors’ attempts to go after an influential developer.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/28/2010 08:25:01 PM PDT

Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez, while employed at the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office, honestly documented his activities, deceived no one and became a political pawn in a corruption probe by state and local prosecutors, his attorney argued Monday.

During an emphatic closing argument in San Bernardino Superior Court, defense attorney James Reiss decried prosecutors’ allegations that Gutierrez conspired with Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum and former Assessor Bill Postmus in taking a job at the county office while performing work in his capacity as a councilman.

Read the rest of this entry »

Villaraigosa

Can the mayor drive a hard bargain with entities like AEG, the Dodgers and the motion picture academy if he has also been the recipient of tickets?

By David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times

June 29, 2010

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has argued for weeks that his acceptance of free tickets to concerts, awards shows and athletic events is not subject to state gift disclosure law because his attendance is part of his official duties.

Yet beyond the thorny legal issues, Villaraigosa faces a political question: Can he drive a hard bargain with entities that do millions of dollars in business with the city if they are also giving him access to pricey entertainment?

Read the rest of this entry »

The administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.

~George Washington~

www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
June 28th, 2010 at 10:14 pm

I intended for the final installment in this series to profile the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. But how many times can I write about the incestuous relationships between District Attorney Mike Ramos, Conflict Panel attorneys, Public Defender Doreen Boxer and judges—relationships that often should be prohibited by conflict laws if not their own sense of integrity and morality? Unfortunately, as we know “integrity and morality” are not important qualities to many of these individuals.

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It was the defense’s turn this morning in San Bernardino County Superior Court in the trial of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez.

Gutierrez is facing three felony counts related to alleged time card fraud while working for Assessor Bill Postmus.

Read the rest of this entry »

County alleges fraud in Assessor’s Office
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/27/2010 07:02:50 AM PDT

As the trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez comes to a close this week, a civil lawsuit against the defendant and four other former executive staff at the county Assessor’s Office lingers on.

The county filed the lawsuit on May 12, 2009, the same day a county-commissioned investigative report detailing alleged misconduct in the Assessor’s Office under the reign of Assessor Bill Postmus was released to the public.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/27/2010 09:52:30 PM PDT

After seven days of testimony, the trial of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez approached its end Thursday with prosecutor John Goritz delivering his closing argument.

Defense attorney James Reiss delivers his closing argument today in San Bernardino Superior Court.

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June 26, 2010 12:04 PM
Brooke Edwards

VICTORVILLE • The city attorney has taken the position that e-mails sent by council members from their personal accounts are not subject to public records requests, regardless of whether they deal with official city business.

“To me that’s ludicrous,” said Judy Alexander, a Soquel-based attorney who works with the California First Amendment Coalition and filed a request for the records. “I think their interpretation of the law is incorrect.”

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Villaraigosa

By David Zahniser and Phil Willon, Los Angeles Times

June 26, 2010

Lawyers for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa named the Los Angeles Dodgers as the most frequent donor of his free tickets, but they struggled to identify many of the other entities that have let him appear at athletic and cultural events without paying, according to documents released Friday.

The 422 pages of records were assembled as part of Villaraigosa’s effort to show that he was performing official and ceremonial duties while going to concerts, sports events and award shows over the last five years. The mayor says that distinction relieved him from having to report the tickets as gifts under state law.

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Maybe it’s not corrupt, but at the very least, Villaraigosa’s use of free tickets is bad judgment.

June 25, 2010|Steve Lopez

Once upon a time in Los Angeles, we had an aggressively dull mayor who guarded his privacy, seldom emerged from his City Hall bunker, and took his sister with him when he went out on the town. Jim Hahn was so shy a guy, I set up a service to recruit potential dates for him.

In a big shakeup, the city made the switch to Antonio Villaraigosa, who seemed determined to prove that he didn’t need my help.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gutierrez

10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, June 24, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez defrauded San Bernardino County taxpayers as part of a “culture of corruption” at the assessor’s office, a prosecutor charged Thursday in his closing argument.

Deputy District Attorney John Goritz told the jury there was overwhelming evidence of a conspiracy that allowed Gutierrez to get his position as intergovernmental relations officer at the assessor’s office through a political favor yet avoid any discipline for failing to do much work.

Read the rest of this entry »

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Created: 06/24/2010 07:30:48 PM PDT

Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez knowingly falsified time records and was paid for hours not worked in the county Assessor’s Office, and should therefore be convicted of grand theft, a prosecutor said Thursday in San Bernardino Superior Court.

“The evidence shows, well beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant lied on his time cards and didn’t show up for work regularly,” prosecutor John Goritz said during his closing argument Thursday in Gutierrez’s trial. “You can decide this case based on that alone.”

Read the rest of this entry »

June 24, 2010 1:45 PM
Natasha Lindstrom

SAN BERNARDINO • As arguments wrap up in the first jury trial in a far-reaching county corruption probe, a judge on Thursday dropped one of four felony counts against an executive staff member of former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus.

Defendant Rex Gutierrez, also a Rancho Cucamonga councilman, is accused of defrauding taxpayers by working on personal or Rancho Cucamonga matters on county time and falsifying time cards, during his service as intergovernmental relations officer under Postmus.

Read the rest of this entry »

www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
June 24th, 2010 at 10:00 am

By PE Politics
on June 24, 2010 11:28 AM

Riverside County is exploring whether it has the legal right to count more than 12,500 June 8 election ballots that arrived at the county election office after the legal deadline.

State law requires ballots be in the office of the county registrar of voters by 8 p.m. the day of the election. But, because of miscommunication between the county and the U.S. Postal Service, 12,563 ballots that were at a Moreno Valley post office June 8 were not picked up by elections officials until the following day.

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Published: Friday, Jun. 25, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A

Running a red light is the automotive equivalent of playing Russian roulette, and it costs the lives of nearly 800 U.S. motorists – red-light runners and innocent victims alike – each year.

That number comes from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which says red-light runners injure another 137,000 people.

Read the rest of this entry »

Villaraigosa

The L.A. mayor’s practice of attending dozens of concerts, sports events and award shows without paying is under investigation by the city Ethics Commission and the D.A. He has argued that he attended the events free to perform official duties.

By David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times

June 25, 2010

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday he would release records Friday spelling out the official duties he performed at dozens of concerts, sports events and award shows that he attended free of charge.

The mayor’s practice of going to those events without paying is the subject of an investigation by the city’s Ethics Commission and an inquiry by Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley’s Public Integrity Division. Villaraigosa has argued repeatedly that tickets to such events do not need to be disclosed as gifts under state law because he was performing official or ceremonial duties.

Read the rest of this entry »

Closing arguments began this afternoon in the case involving Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez.

Gutierrez is now charged with only three felonies related to his employment under former Assessor Bill Postmus, after Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse acquitted him of Embezzlement by a Public Officer, count number three of the complaint. The Embezzlement charge dismissal is a blow to the prosecution. The embezzlement charge is what is referred to as a “general intent” crime with a lower threshold to prove guilt.

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This morning Superior Court Judge Duke D. Rouse dismissed one felony count against Rancho Cuamonga City Councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez,

During preparation of jury instructions defense attorney Jim Reiss made a motion to dismiss count three of the complaint for Embezzlement by a Public Officer (Penal Code Section 424). Reiss argued Gutierrez’s duties and responsibilities did not subject him to penalty under the law.

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10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A San Bernardino County prosecutor hammered at the credibility of Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez on Wednesday as the former county assessor’s official continued his second day on the witness stand.

The testimony came as the prosecution and defense called their last witnesses in the sixth day of the corruption trial. Closing arguments are scheduled for today.

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10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2010

CASSIE MACDUFF

Disenfranchising 12,500 voters whose ballots arrived before the 8 p.m. Election Day deadline but didn’t get to the registrar’s office because of a mistake would be grossly unjust.

Elections are a cornerstone of American democracy. Any time a vote is not counted because of error or misadventure, that cornerstone is undermined.

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Wednesday, June 23, 2020 – 3:45 P.M.

Testimony in the trial of Rex Gutierrez ended this afternoon following the conclusion of Gutierrez’s testimony and that of four character witnesses for the defense and two rebuttal witnesses for the prosecution.

Deputy Attorney General Melissa Mandel finally entered the picture. Mandel cross-examined at least two of the four character witnesses. Mandel’s demeanor came across less than hospitable considering the witnesses had nothing to do with the situation.

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Wednesday, June 23, 2010 – 1:25 P.M.

This morning it was more of the same at the trial of Rancho Cucamonga city councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez. Things picked up right where they left off.

Gutierrez took the witness stand again and was subjected to further berating by Deputy District Attorney John Goritz. Goritz can’t help but raise his voice.

Read the rest of this entry »

InlandPolitics.com is still piecing together information still being received related to the contract vote by the San Bernardino Public Employees Association (SBPEA).

It’s seems to be boiling down to the money. The unions money!

Read the rest of this entry »

Rex Gutierrez

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 22, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez denied allegations Tuesday that his former job at the San Bernardino County assessor’s office was a sham.

On the fifth day of testimony in his corruption trial, the defendant countered other witnesses who said he got the job as an intergovernmental relations officer as a favor through influential Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum, and that he did little actual work.

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Rex Gutierrez

Gutierrez rejects Burum link to job
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/22/2010 08:08:23 PM PDT

Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez took the witness stand Tuesday in his own defense, denying allegations that his nearly two-year employment in the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office was political in nature and influenced by developer Jeff Burum.

Defense attorney James Reiss began presenting his case Tuesday in San Bernardino Superior Court in the trial of Gutierrez, 50, who is charged with felony grand theft, misappropriation of public funds and filing a false claim.

Read the rest of this entry »

11:14 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 22, 2010

By RICHARD K. DE ATLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Riverside County will delay certifying results of the June 8 primary to see if possible legal action will resolve the fate of 12,500 mail-in votes declared invalid because they were delivered after the deadline to be counted.

Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit said close races that could be affected by counting the votes include the Mary Salas-Juan Vargas Democratic primary for the state Senate 40th District, and the statewide Republican insurance commissioner race.

Read the rest of this entry »

Meg Whitman

In a radio interview, the Republican said the altercation was a verbal dispute and characterizes the media interest in the story as the ‘fascination of the chattering class.’

By Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times

June 23, 2010

After a week of silence, Meg Whitman has spoken out about a report that she shoved a subordinate when she was chief executive of EBay, characterizing the altercation as a verbal dispute and dismissing the uproar about it as “a fascination of the chattering class.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
June 22, 2010

Assembly Democrats have quietly halved the size of a controversial borrowing plan in their budget, recognizing legal pitfalls that could undermine their idea, according to an Assembly source.

They initially proposed a maneuver in which the state would sell nearly $9 billion in bonds against its Beverage Container Recycling Fund, using proceeds from deposits that consumers pay on cans and bottles to pay off bond debt in future years. To make up for the recycling fund money, the state would then enact a new tax on oil production. Essentially, the state would borrow against oil tax revenues.

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Rancho Cucamonga city councilman Rex Gutierrez testified today in his own defense.

Attorney Jim Reiss questioned Gutierrez about his background, namely his work history. In addition to his background history Gutierrez went over the process by which the city of Rancho Cucamonga and National CORE partner up. Defense attorney Reiss questioned Gutierrez about his lengthy relationship with developer Jeff Burum, that began around 1992. Throughout this relationship Burum and himself would keep in contact on a consistent basis, Gutierrez said.

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

As last nights vote count and election process by the San Bernardino Pubic Employees Association (SBPEA) is called further into question, a few details need to be clarified.

First, it is appropriate for a labor union to conduct membership-wide votes for matters related to the general business of the organization. The types of matters I’m referring to include, but is not limited to, election of officers, by-law amendments, and dues increases.

Read the rest of this entry »

www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
June 21st, 2010 at 5:02 pm

Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.

˜Socrates˜

In the first three parts we examined the District Attorney’s Office, the Conflict Panel, and the Public Defender’s Office. It is now time to turn our attention to the Superior Court bench.

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Monday, June 21, 2010

This mornings events at the trial of Rancho Cucamonga City councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez had the atmosphere of watching paint dry, until the lead District Attorney investigator on the case was questioned by defense attorney Jim Reiss.

Gutierrez is charged with four felonies related to alleged time card fraud and prosecution claims that his hiring by former Assessor Bill Postmus was a conspiracy orchestrated by Rancho Cucamonga developer Jeff Burum.

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Gutierrez

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, June 21, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez and developer Jeff Burum exchanged seven phone calls while the City Council was hearing pitches from rival developers hoping to build on a 1,200-acre parcel, a district attorney’s investigator testified Monday.

Schyler Beaty, a senior investigator, said telephone records show the calls took place March 2, 2009. They occurred between presentations from different companies presenting plans for the highly sought-after surplus San Bernardino County land located in Rancho Cucamonga.

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Doreen Boxer

Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/21/2010 08:15:46 PM PDT

Editor’s note: Part two of a two-part look at San Bernardino County’s justice system.

SAN BERNARDINO – Proposed budget cuts in the Public Defender’s Office for fiscal year 2010-11 could mean that criminal cases take longer to make their way through the justice system in San Bernardino County.

The office recently publicized that it was eliminating 39 positions, 30 of which were already vacant. Most had been unfilled for more than a year, and one was empty for almost three years, explained Public Defender Doreen Boxer.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/21/2010 06:55:33 PM PDT

Three days after his job at the San Bernardino County Assessor’s Office was eliminated, Rancho Cucamonga Councilman Rex Gutierrez asked developer Jeff Burum to persuade then-Assessor Bill Postmus to extend his pay until he found another job.

State and local prosecutors on Monday introduced as evidence in Gutierrez’s trial an e-mail the councilman sent to Burum on Oct. 10, 2008 – three days after the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors eliminated Gutierrez’s position as intergovernmental relations officer at the Assessor’s Office.

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Gutierrez

Today starts week two of the trial of Rancho Cucamonga City councilman and former Assessor employee Rex Gutierrez.

State and county prosecutors are attempting to weave a conspiracy theory with allegations of time card fraud allegedly committed by Gutierrez, while he was employed by Assessor Bill Postmus.

Read the rest of this entry »

www.iepolitics.com

Written by Administrator
June 20th, 2010 at 4:26 pm

This past week San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney John Goritz and state of California Deputy Attorney General Melissa Mandel unveiled their “conspiracy theory” in the trial of former Assessor’s Office employee Rex Gutierrez. In addition to having worked for the county, Gutierrez also is an elected member of the city of Rancho Cucamonga City Council. Gutierrez is accused of conducting city of Rancho Cucamonga business on county time.

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Staff reductions proposed despite budget increase
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/20/2010 08:18:15 PM PDT

Editor’s note: Part one of a two-part look at San Bernardino County’s justice system.

A reduced work force could have a significant impact on operations in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, despite a $1.5 million budget increase.

The proposed budget for fiscal 2010-11 includes a staffing reduction of 34 positions – more than half of which were already vacant. But three prosecutors also were elected to the judicial bench this month, and five to six other personnel have retired or left for various reasons.

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Elrod

Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 06/20/2010 07:02:35 AM PDT

Chino Councilman Earl Elrod is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Chino Superior Court in connection with his alleged involvement hit-and-run accident this year.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office filed a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge against Elrod after a Feb. 14 accident at C and 10th streets in Chino. A Lexus driven by Elrod was hit by a bicyclist heading west on C Street. The councilman drove off without identifying himself, according to authorities.

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