Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Sunday, January 25, 2015 – 10:30 a.m.
Ontario took a hit in its lawsuit to wrestle away control of Ontario International Airport last week.
By Jason Henry, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Posted: 01/23/15, 8:48 PM PST |
Covina has chosen former acting San Bernardino City Manager Andrea Miller for its top position.
By IE Business Daily
Saturday January 24, 2015
Online and phone based applications are creating hysteria for local, state and federal government agencies and bureaucrats.
Published: Jan. 22, 2015 – Updated: 10:39 p.m.
Riverside has shown itself to be exceptional in its 132-year history, and today’s residents should use their vision and passion to contribute to its future, Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey said Tuesday in his annual State of the City speech.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/22/15, 8:09 AM PST | Updated: 19 secs ago
RIVERSIDE >> A Superior Court judge has issued a tentative decision in favor of Los Angeles on two key aspects of lawsuit for control of L.A./Ontario International Airport.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 01/21/15, 12:01 AM PST | Updated: 1 min ago
REDLANDS >> John James is the newest member of the City Council.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 01/21/15, 12:24 PM PST | Updated: 7 hrs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> City officials are pursuing a possible lawsuit against Cal Fire to force that state agency to bid on providing fire and EMS services for the city.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/20/15, 10:40 AM PST | Updated: 35 secs ago
RIVERSIDE >> Attorneys for Ontario will continue to press for the release of 399 documents that they say could determine the fate of the city’s legal battle for local control of LA/Ontario International Airport.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
01/20/2015 8:58 PM
A bankruptcy judge Tuesday dismissed an effort to keep Stockton mired in bankruptcy while a creditor challenges a decision that lets the city pay its CalPERS pension bills in full.
Published: Jan. 19, 2015 – Updated: 9:50 p.m.
Los Angeles attorneys want a judge to take a second look at her order for them to hand Ontario 399 documents in that city’s lawsuit to regain control of Ontario International Airport.
To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Dan Weikel
January 18, 2015
In the battle for LA/Ontario airport, the city of L.A. may have overstated its worth, according to a new audit
Sunday, January 18, 2015 – 11:00 a.m.
We’ve written about it here before. If you want to be a county supervisor, be prepared to do your job.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/16/15, 11:19 AM PST | Updated: 50 secs ago
RIVERSIDE >> Superior Court Judge Gloria Trask on Friday ordered Los Angeles to produce 399 documents for Ontario by noon Tuesday as part of an ongoing lawsuit over control of L.A./Ontario International Airport.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/15/15, 4:04 PM PST | Updated: 11 hrs ago
RIVERSIDE >> Los Angeles officials underestimated the effectiveness of Ontarios lobbying efforts in 2011, and were in disarray by the former mayor’s inability to decide whether to sell L.A./Ontario International Airport, documents released on Thursday revealed.
Published: Jan. 14, 2015
Updated: Jan. 15, 2015 – 8:21 a.m.
Six months after hiring a part-time interim city attorney for $19,500 a month, Riverside officials announced they will end their contract with Best Best & Krieger and put a city staff attorney in the temporary post.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: Jan. 14, 2015 – Updated: 4:49 p.m.
Moreno Valley has agreed to pay $200,000 to settle a lawsuit by a deputy city attorney who alleged he lost his job for prosecuting code-enforcement violations by a former councilman.
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 01/14/15, 7:01 PM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> With a May 30 deadline to file its bankruptcy exit plan looming and years of growth hoped for after that, city officials are moving forward with a long-term strategic plan that will help form the bankruptcy plan and extend far beyond it.
By Abby Sewell
January 15, 2015
Los Angeles County officials Wednesday completed a major reorganization in the top tier of management, moving some upper officials out of the county’s chief executive office and bringing others into newly created positions.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 – 10:30 a.m.
The bankrupt city of San Bernardino has placed the dormant Carousel Mall up for sale.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 01/13/15, 6:51 PM PST |
Colton officials have approved the hiring of a finance manager as part of the city’s effort to improve overseeing its finances.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/12/15, 10:25 PM PST | Updated: 40 secs ago
UPLAND >> The City Council on Monday night gave City Manager Rod Butler the approval to go forward with considering 15 remaining task force recommendations and a goal-setting workshop.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015 – 10:30 a.m.
In San Bernardino County, California, administrators are putting the writing on the proverbial wall.
Published: Jan. 12, 2015 – Updated: 6:46 p.m.
Thirteen men and women have applied to serve on the Redlands City Council, where a vacancy was created with the election of Pete Aguilar to Congress.
To read story by Erin Waldner in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/12/15, 3:05 PM PST |
UPLAND >> More than a year after a Fiscal Task Force was convened to save the city from possible bankruptcy, only seven of the 22 items on its to-do list have been addressed.
By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/12/15, 4:32 PM PST |
RIALTO >> Rialto property owners will be seeing their property taxes go up after the Rialto Unified School Board voted last week to issue a third round of Measure Y bonds to help pay for long-awaited renovations and improvements at Eisenhower High and other district sites.
By Jim Steinberg, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 01/11/15, 5:23 PM PST |
COLTON >> Contract negotiations between county officials and its nursing union have resumed, officials said.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 01/10/15, 2:41 PM PST | Updated: 1 day ago
San Bernardino County’s contribution to its employee pensions will increase by $35.6 million in the next year, attributed to reduced rates on investment returns and increased life expectancies for pensioners, according to the county’s chief financial officer.
And those increased costs will shadow the county for at least the next 15 years.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/10/15, 1:52 PM PST | Updated: 37 secs ago
Maybe it was a bad idea from the very beginning.
Fifty years ago, the thought of Los Angeles taking over a small airport in the Inland Empire seemed like a huge win for Ontario. A no-brainer.
SHEA JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER
Posted Jan. 10, 2015 @ 12:01 am
Updated at 10:54 PM
VICTORVILLE — Midway through his first term, San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Robert Lovingood said this week that he remains committed to supporting the local solar and mining sectors in 2015, while also seeking to push career technical training for youth.
By Mark Gutglueck
Posted on January 10, 2015
(January 9) Acquanetta Warren, the Fontana mayor who has for the past several years been serving as the city of Upland’s assistant director of public works, abruptly resigned her post with the City of Gracious Living Thursday.
By Greg Cappis, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/09/15, 10:20 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO >> In a new courthouse that is part of an underfunded county court system, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors met with the Inland Empire caucus of the state Legislature on Friday afternoon to discuss issues facing the region.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
01/08/2015 8:44 PM
Government pensions, once thought to be ironclad in California, are under attack in court once again.
Thursday, January 8, 2015 – 08:30 a.m.
The Boards of Supervisors for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties have selected new leadership to start off the new year.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 01/07/15, 8:24 PM PST |
SAN BERNARDINO >> With symbolic support for their mission from the City Council and a plan to get policy support from an expert in city charters, members of the citizen charter review committee continued treading lightly at their second meeting since the November election.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 01/06/15, 5:29 PM PST | Updated: 55 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> An attempt to streamline City Council meetings will significantly limit the time members of the public have to address items the council considers noncontroversial.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 01/05/15, 9:28 PM PST | Updated: 45 secs ago
County supervisors on Tuesday will consider increasing by more than 28 percent a lease agreement with the Sheriff’s Department for its new aviation hangar at San Bernardino International Airport due to increasing costs associated with the project.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/05/15, 7:38 PM PST | Updated: 19 secs ago
ONTARIO >> The decline in air service at LA/Ontario International Airport has resulted in a $2.6 billion loss on the region’s economy since 2010.
Published: Dec. 24, 2014 Updated: Dec. 28, 2014 6:08 p.m.
For years, the Riverside City Attorney’s Office has been hiring outside legal help with only sporadic approval from the City Council and, in some cases, few written contracts or other records, according to city officials and residents.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Grace Wong, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 12/28/14, 2:24 PM PST |
CHINO >> The Chino Valley Unified School Board is under fire for prayers, Bible readings and alleged Christian proselytizing during board meetings. For some, this comes as a surprise, but a look at the board’s past shows that religiously tinged conflicts over policy are nothing new.
By Mark Gutglueck
Posted on December 27, 2014
(December 22) — San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon was the highest-paid county elected official in California in 2013, according to state controller John Chiang. During his first full year in office as sheriff, McMahon received a total compensation package of well over half of a million dollars.
YEAR IN REVIEW
By Staff Reports
Posted Dec. 27, 2014 @ 4:31 pm
It certainly was a year to remember, and for some maybe one to forget. There was nothing boring about 2014, though.
STUDY
Results shock local staffs; official calls report flawed, ‘irresponsible’
RENE RAY DE LA CRUZ
STAFF WRITER
Posted Dec. 26, 2014 @ 5:28 pm
Updated Dec 26, 2014 at 5:33 PM
HESPERIA — Staff members at one financially stable local municipality were shaking their heads in disbelief after a recent report ranked their city as one of the most likely to file bankruptcy.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 12/26/14, 1:25 PM PST | Updated: 1 min ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> Repeatedly over the last several years, city officials have cut what they acknowledge are important services, saying shrinking revenues leave the bankrupt city no choice.
Brooke Self
Staff Writer
Posted Dec. 26, 2014 @ 8:31 pm
Updated Dec 26, 2014 at 8:36 PM
ADELANTO — It’s safe to say that Adelanto had something of a rocky year in 2014, facing a fiscal crisis that brought the city of 32,000 residents to the brink of bankruptcy.
Published: Dec. 22, 2014 – Updated: 4:24 p.m.
Moreno Valley has agreed to pay about $128,000 in attorney fees in a settlement that will end a lawsuit over last year’s appointment of Councilman Yxstian Gutierrez.
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 12/21/14, 3:58 PM PST |
Combined, San Bernardino County Assessor Dennis Draeger and Assistant Assessor Dan Harp have put in nearly 75 years of public service to the county.
And now, they are retiring.
By Ed Mendel
December 22, 2014
The debt or “unfunded liability” state Controller John Chiang reported last week for state worker retiree health care, $72 billion, is larger than the unfunded liability for state worker pensions reported by CalPERS in April, $50 billion.
SHEA JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER
Posted Dec. 20, 2014 @ 8:39 pm
Updated Dec 20, 2014 at 8:59 PM
In general, city managers top the pay scale among city employees, and a report released this week by outgoing state Controller John Chiang indicates that the top brass in and around the Victor Valley and Barstow regions are not an exception to this trend.
Published: Dec. 18, 2014 – Updated: 3:41 p.m.
Former Inland Assemblyman Brian Nestande needed a job after he lost his congressional race in November.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Posted: 12/18/14, 2:07 PM PST |
Rancho Cucamonga Mayor L. Dennis Michael has became the first vice president of the League of California Cities for the next year.
Published: Dec. 16, 2014 – Updated: 5:55 p.m.
Los Angeles was ordered Tuesday to produce documents sought by Ontario in its lawsuit to regain control of Ontario International Airport, which Los Angeles has operated for decades.
To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 12/16/14, 8:58 PM PST | Updated: 28 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> The city has a “work plan” to prepare its bankruptcy exit plan, and it’s been reviewed by the entire City Council — not just the small team that previously was allowed to know details of the confidential mediation where much of the city’s bankruptcy plan has been ironed out.
BY MEGHANN M. CUNIFF / STAFF WRITER
Published: Dec. 16, 2014 Updated: 11:00 p.m.
A longtime county administrator set to become Orange County’s temporary chief executive faces a legal review related to nearly $1 million worth of no-bid contracts issued by the county over the past five years.
Published: Dec. 14, 2014 Updated: Dec. 15, 2014 8:15 a.m.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will meet in January with Ontario officials over stalled talks on the return of Ontario International Airport to the Inland city.
To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 12/14/14, 6:38 PM PST | Updated: 38 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> Members of a citizens committee tasked with reforming the city charter will meet again Tuesday with lingering questions about what they’re supposed to accomplish.
By Ed Mendel
December 15, 2014
CalPERS is encouraging government employers to make extra payments to reduce their pension debt or “unfunded liability” if budgets allow, saying millions can be saved in the long run.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
12/14/2014 12:01 AM
California’s perpetual political debate over public employee pensions usually focuses on the benefits themselves – whether they are fair compensation for those doing the public’s work or, conversely, too generous.
By Kate Linthicum
December 13, 2014
The cash-strapped city of Adelanto, already home to three detention facilities, has approved a plan to build another.
Saturday, December 13, 2014 – 11:45 a.m.
The California Nurses Association (CNA), successfully and legally, pulled off a two-day walkout at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center this week.
By IE Business Daily
December 13, 2014
When Michael McKinney was appointed Chief of Staff to San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis, a tremendous opportunity was handed to him.
Friday, December 12, 2014 – 10:30 a.m.
San Bernardino City Hall is facing a political fork in the road.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 – 01:50 p.m.
As expected, San Bernardino City Manager Allen J. Parker still has his job.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 – 11:00 p.m.
Will San Bernardino, California Mayor Carey Davis come out on the losing end of another vote?
By Jim Steinberg, The Sun
Posted: 12/09/14, 9:56 AM PST | Updated: 59 secs ago
COLTON >> Hundreds of county nurses did not show up for work Tuesday as the nurses union began a two-day strike, demanding higher wages and protesting working conditions.
Published: Dec. 9, 2014 Updated: 10:00 p.m.
A proposal to give Eastvale employees a raise and reorganize City Hall staff by creating a new assistant city manager post will go the the City Council on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
To read story by Sandra Stokley in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 12/09/14, 8:12 PM PST |
REDLANDS >> The Redlands City Council will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss filling a vacancy following Pete Aguilar’s vacating his seat.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 12/09/14, 9:57 PM PST | Updated: 30 secs ago
YUCAIPA >> The Yucaipa City Council has welcomed a new council member and said goodbye to Councilman Tom Masner.
SHEA JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER
Posted Dec. 9, 2014 @ 6:55 pm
Updated Dec 9, 2014 at 6:58 PM
VICTORVILLE — Calling for a valleywide discussion regarding the number of correctional facilities in the area, the city announced late Tuesday that it was “fundamentally opposed” to a proposed prison to house Los Angeles County inmates near the Adelanto-Victorville border.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 – 10:30 a.m.
In San Bernardino County’s pocket?
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.
A two day strike by more than 1,000 San Bernardino County nurses is being felt across the Inland Empire with emergency and other patients being deferred to other area hospitals.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 12/08/14, 8:50 PM PST | Updated: 21 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> A special meeting of the City Council will discuss the performance of City Manager Allen Parker in closed session on Wednesday, after Parker refused Mayor Carey Davis’ request to resign.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 12/09/14, 12:26 AM PST |
UPLAND >> Unable to gain a majority approval; the City Council Monday night voted down a six-month contract for an interim police chief.
Sunday, December 7, 2014 – 10:00 a.m.
San Bernardino County’s labor relations continues down the path of obstruction and disharmony.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 12/06/14, 9:44 PM PST |
COLTON >> In an effort to create transparency and garner trust from the community, the newly seated City Council passed a series of changes last week to its ethics policy that include prohibiting city employees and relatives of council members from sitting on city commissions and committees.
By Mark Gutglueck
Posted on December 5, 2014
(December 3) San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis will be without a chief of staff as of January 1, pursuant to a vote of the San Bernardino City Council on Monday.
Friday, December 5, 2014 – 08:30 p.m.
It’s one debacle after another for struggling San Bernardino, California.
InlandPolitics has learned that San Bernardino Mayor Carey Davis has requested the resignation of City Manager Allen J. Parker.
Friday, December 5, 2014 – 03:30 p.m.
A San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge has denied a request for an injunction prohibiting a two-day walk out of the county’s 1,100 nurses.
By Jim Steinberg, The Sun
Posted: 12/04/14, 5:28 PM PST | Updated: 28 secs ago
San Bernardino County officials are seeking to block a planned strike by its 1,100 member nurses union, saying a two-day event next week “could cost taxpayers millions of dollars” if the county is forced to hire temporary nurses.
By Greg Cappis, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 12/04/14, 8:19 PM PST |
Across the country, people are scrutinizing deaths at the hands of law enforcement officers in light of grand juries clearing police in two recent high-profile cases. In San Bernardino County, police and the Sheriff’s Department have been involved in several controversial officer-involved shootings the past few years.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 12/03/14, 8:17 PM PST | Updated: 1 day ago
Colton city officials hired an interim city manager this week after six months of the position being vacant after the former top administrator was placed on leave then fired.
By Joanna Lin / December 4, 2014
California taxpayers spend about $40 billion a year to pay their fire chiefs, mayors, tree trimmers and thousands of other city and county employees. Some – including harbor pilots in Los Angeles – make more than $300,000 a year. Others receive as little as $190, the payout for one planning commissioner in tiny Alpine County.
Posted: Wednesday, December 3, 2014 6:00 am | Updated: 10:06 am, Wed Dec 3, 2014.
By NORBERTO SANTANA JR.
As the 20th anniversary of Orange County’s municipal bankruptcy approaches, county supervisors are on the verge of reversing the centerpiece reform that emerged from the $1.5-billion financial disaster.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 – 02:30 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 3, 2014 – 04:35 p.m.
The latest developments in San Bernardino City Hall politics will be the broad topic of discussion Thursday morning.
Published: Dec. 2, 2014 Updated: 11:20 p.m.
The California legislature’s 2013-2014 session ended Nov. 30 and, with it, any hope of an override of Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto of a bill that would have restored vehicle license fee revenue to Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Menifee and Wildomar.
To read story by Sandra Stokley in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 12/02/14, 8:58 PM PST | Updated: 29 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> The City Council set back Mayor Carey Davis’ agenda Monday by resoundingly rejecting his request to extend the contract for his chief of staff.