Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
By Kenneth P. Vogel and Darren Samuelsohn
12/8/14 11:59 PM EST
The Republican Party’s top operatives — including strategists representing the Koch brothers’ political operation and several leading prospective 2016 presidential candidates – on Monday huddled behind closed doors to discuss how to synchronize their sometimes competing tech efforts, multiple attendees confirmed to POLITICO.
Friday, October 24, 2014 – 06:00 p.m.
It’s been interesting to watch the Redlands City Council campaigns finally play out.
Saturday, August 3, 2014 – 11:30 a.m.
Here’s the Top 25 highest paid public employees in Riverside County government, according to 2013 compensation figures provided by the searchable database at website TransparentCalifornia.com
Carla Marinucci
Updated 10:43 pm, Monday, May 26, 2014
Sharp divisions between the GOP’s “country club” establishment and its rough-around-the-edges Tea Party activists have been exposed in the California governor’s contest, where the race for second place pits an ex-investment banker – who’s dropped $2 million of his own money on the campaign – against a fiery former plastics salesman whose chief campaign assets are an iPhone and a car with 370,000 miles on it.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, May 5, 2014
A CalPERS report intended for policymakers, noting that a reform cuts $435 a month from the pensions of many new hires, suggests that a pay raise may be needed to “compete for quality employees.”
By Tim Logan
March 27, 2014, 6:08 p.m.
Population growth in Southern California slowed last year, and that helped lead to softer demand for housing.
October 22, 2013
A Rancho Cucamonga resident and supervising criminal investigator for San Bernardino County has announced plans to run for California’s 40th Assembly District.
To read post by Jeff Horseman in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.
October 6, 2013
A story in Sunday’s Sacramento Bee puts consulting/lobbying powerhouse California Strategies under the microscope, and reveals some intra-firm tension involving partner (and former Inland lawmaker) Jim Brulte, the chairman of the California Republican Party.
To read story by Jim Miller in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.
June 17, 2013; 05:39 PM
The Riverside City Council will discuss and likely vote on the 2013-14 budget after a public hearing at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at City Hall, 3900 Main St.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Thursday, April 11, 2013 – 04:30 p.m.
We told you so!
Just as expected, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has essentially told the city of Ontario, and the so-called Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA), “no” to selling or ‘giving’ LAX/Ontario International Airport to the entities to operate.
Monday, October 15, 2012 – 03:30 p.m.
The shock of the first Presidential Debate has apparently worn off.
Remember that debate where Republican Nominee Mitt Romney performed well and President Barack Obama didn’t show up.
Monday, August 20, 2012 – 12:45 p.m.
Staff Reporter Kim Pierceall has launched a new blog at the Press-Enterprise.
The website, called The Watchdog Blog, focuses on open government in the Inland Empire.
A concept that seems to be woefully lacking in the region.
BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com
Published: 23 January 2012 08:14 PM
San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry will return to normal voting at today’s board meeting even as he sparred with federal officials over the exact nature of his eight-month suspension.
Due to criminal charges he faced last year, Derry had not taken part in votes involving federal funds.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/16/2011 03:19:40 PM PST
Highland has lost a $10 million federal grant to widen Fifth Street north of San Bernardino International Airport due to an ongoing FBI investigation at the airport.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
Goes to show that one can make a good joke over just about anything.
10:33 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011
By JIM MILLER
The Press-Enterprise
PDF: PACs that prosecutors say were manipulated by corruption suspects
Special Section: San Bernardino Co. Corruption Probe
Lorene “Kitty” Stennett was a loyal foot soldier in San Bernardino County Republican politics. When a fellow activist asked her to become an officer in a new campaign committee, she readily agreed.
By Anthony York and Shane Goldmacher, Los Angeles Times
June 8, 2011
Reporting from Sacramento — Republican lawmakers are prepared to let voters decide whether to close California’s stubborn budget deficit with higher taxes in exchange for major changes in state spending, public pensions and regulatory policies.
By Jim Steinberg Staff Writer
Posted: 05/27/2011 05:59:20 PM PDT
RIALTO – Some 60 members of the Rialto Unified School District’s classified employee union carried signs and circulated through the school board meeting room Thursday night in protest of proposed work cuts – amounting to a month or more for many.
By Monica Rodriguez Staff Writer
Created: 05/12/2011 05:03:44 PM PDT
POMONA – Members of the Pomona Unified School District Board of Education put off making a decision on the proposed closure of Mendoza Elementary School this week.
12:07 AM PDT on Sunday, May 8, 2011
By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise
A plan to bring passenger rail service to Redlands by using refurbished Metrolink cars rather than a light rail line will be the subject of two public meetings this week.
Executive Editor Frank Pine
Created: 05/07/2011 09:28:54 PM PDT
It’s hardly controversial to say that education is important.
Who would disagree?
Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, The Associated Press
Posted: 05/03/2011 07:29:42 PM PDT
WASHINGTON – Osama bin Laden was unarmed when Navy SEALs burst into his room and shot him to death, the White House said Tuesday, a change in the official account that raised questions about whether the U.S. ever planned to capture the terrorist leader alive.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 – 10:30 a.m.
Inflation pressure continued to build on the U.S. economy this week.
Penman
11:22 PM PDT on Sunday, April 3, 2011
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman will have to effectively borrow money from his department’s next year budget to plug a $410,000 shortage this year.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
Well it’s been another month and a name is still conspicuously missing from San Bernardino County retirement rolls.
Ruth E. Stringer, the allegedly retired county counsel, seems to be once again missing.
Published: Wednesday, 12 Jan 2011 | 9:10 AM ET
By: Jeff Cox
CNBC.com Staff Writer
Financial analyst Meredith Whitney is sticking by her call that the nation’s municipalities face a wave of defaults, despite a wave of criticism over her prediction that hundreds of local governments would not meet their obligations.
In fact, she took the forecast a step further and said when the defaults begin in earnest, it will mark an exodus from the muni bond market.
January 12, 2011 9:35 AM
Natasha Lindstrom
Click here to read Neil Derry’s comments from the Board of Supervisors meeting.
SAN BERNARDINO • On a split vote, 5th District Supervisor Josie Gonzales was elected chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, moments after a fellow board member alleged that Gonzales is implicated in a scandal relating to an FBI raid last November at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. in Colton
Gonzales
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales was selected as chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors Tuesday even as Supervisor Neil Derry accused her of possibly being implicated in a criminal investigation.
The selection of a new chair and vice-chair, usually a routine process every two years, took on a more divisive tone with supporters of Gonzales urging her selection and Derry criticizing her.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
Last Modified: Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 – 12:42 pm
Put aside Gov. Jerry Brown’s political skills for a moment, along with his insider’s knowledge of state government and his honeymoon with voters and lawmakers.
Those assets might not stand a chance against 12.4 percent unemployment.
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 01/05/2011 05:46:05 PM PST
Local government officials’ interests were piqued when Gov. Jerry Brown said on Tuesday he wants to try a new approach to dealing with the state’s budget mess by restructuring the relationship with local government agencies and shifting many state services to county and city control.
Chantal M. Lovell, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/04/2011 08:30:43 PM PST
REDLANDS – The City Council voted to fill its $1.3 million deficit in the 2010-11 fiscal year, opting out of layoffs and banking on assumed property- tax revenue.
In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the council decided to combine cuts to services and supplies, reallocate funds and budget money from expected additional property tax pass-through revenues from the Inland Valley Development Authority to fill the deficit that remained in the current fiscal year.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 – 11:09 am
For someone who liked to joke about his lack of “message discipline” in the campaign, Jerry Brown sure has buttoned up.
By announcing just two appointments and sharply limiting public appearances, the governor-elect has avoided distractions common to gubernatorial transitions while closeting those wandering, occasionally off-color musings that have tripped him up before.
By Ed Mendel
December 13, 2010
In the last year of Governor-elect Jerry Brown’s previous term as governor, 1982, he signed two bills that dipped into CalPERS reserves, taking a total of $433 million to help balance the state budget.
Last week the incoming governor’s finance director, outlining a budget shortfall that could be $28 billion during the next 18 months, put pensions at the top of a mountain of long-term debt.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 6B
A financier who has invested tens of millions of dollars for CalPERS was sued Thursday in a probe of corruption at New York state’s public pension fund.
Steven Rattner, accused of bribing officials in New York, briefly served as President Obama’s “car czar,” overseeing the bailout of General Motors. He was sued the same day GM’s stock went public again – a move seen by many as a vindication of the bailout.
11:25 PM PST on Wednesday, November 10, 2010
By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise
A day after ousting the registrar of voters, Riverside County officials said Wednesday that they will do everything they can to ensure the remaining votes are counted accurately.
The county still must tally about 28,800 provisional ballots and certify the Nov. 2 results by Nov. 30.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/01/2010 07:35:04 PM PDT
Former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus told his second lieutenant, Adam Aleman, that he planned to launder profits from his land investments through his real estate company, according to court testimony Monday.
Hollis “Bud” Randles, a senior investigator with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, said Postmus told Aleman that he planned to launder the money either through Artisan Land Consultants or through his father. He planned to use the money for campaign contributions, Randles said.
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Thursday, October 14th, 2010 at 6:17 pm in campaign finance.
The authors of those so-called “issue pieces” that everyone knows are intended to influence the outcome of a campaign must now disclose their names and their donors, the Fair Political Practices Commission decided today.
Lori Consalvo, Staff Writer
Created: 10/09/2010 07:08:46 AM PDT
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – In the 2nd District race for San Bernardino County supervisor, it is the man with experience versus the woman who offers change.
Supervisor Paul Biane and challenger Janice Rutherford, a Fontana councilwoman, participated in a forum on Tuesday night in a meeting room in Central Park to answer questions and familiarize residents with their backgrounds and policies.
October 06, 2010 5:29 PM
Peter Day
HESPERIA • Medical marijuana users should be able to legally acquire pot in Hesperia, a spokesman for a nonprofit advocacy group told the City Council.
“We would love to work with the city of Hesperia to help provide safe access to these patients while keeping it out of the hands of our children,” said Kevin Sutman, who was one of about 20 members of the West Coast Patient Group, Inc. in attendance at the council meeting Tuesday night.
Derry
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 – 03:15 p.m.
The Sunshine Ordinance authored by Supervisor Neil Derry received unanimous support today from the Board of Supervisors and will take effect in 30 days.
A key provision of the ordinance prohibits elected and high ranking officials from citing the “deliberative process” as a means of failing to disclose receipts and other expenditures from public scrutiny. Supervisor Derry believes the right of the people to be fully apprised of all expenditures is sacrosanct and that that right must be staunchly defended.
Governor signs ‘infraction’ bill
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Created: 10/01/2010 05:13:08 PM PDT
A speeding ticket. Possessing an ounce or less of marijuana.
It’s all the same, according to a bill signed late Thursday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that reduces possession of an ounce or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction, with a maximum punishment of a $100 fine.
Will Bigham, Staff Writer
Created: 09/30/2010 06:36:16 PM PDT
FONTANA – One judge called the courtroom “a closet.”
Another described it as “notorious.”
Fontana Superior Court’s tiny Dept. 6 – created to ease excessive case loads at the courthouse – was so small that the audience area consisted of only three narrow benches.
Increases projected despite federal reforms
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 09/11/2010 09:41:20 PM PDT
The health care reform bill may actually lead to higher premiums over the next few years, contradicting claims by the bill’s supporters that the reforms would lower health costs.
The Democratic senator says Fiorina is ‘in the pocket of big oil,’ while the Republican says the state’s climate change law ‘isn’t the right answer.’ Each accuses the other of endangering jobs.
Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times
September 11, 2010
Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer said Friday that rival Carly Fiorina’s recent embrace of a November ballot measure that would roll back the state’s landmark global warming law was evidence that the Republican was “in the pocket of big oil” and “dirty coal.”
Sen. Bob Dutton
Created: 08/29/2010 08:06:40 PM PDT
For the past year, the state budget process has dragged along at a markedly slow pace with precious little in the way of progress to talk about. It may have come as a pleasant surprise to some then that a budget vote is scheduled for this Tuesday. But despite the assurances you might hear from Democrat leaders, make no mistake, this is only a drill.
***Editor’s Note: Assembly Member Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) doesn’t come off well in this story as the #2 offender. Carter was absent 23 sessions for medical reasons and never once waived accepting her per diem.
Carter
By Jim Sanders
jsanders@sacbee.com
Published: Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
California legislators collected tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded per diem payments for floor sessions they did not attend this year, records show.
Failing to show up for work typically did not hurt lawmakers’ pocketbooks: Only about one of every four absences included the loss of the tax-free $142 per day in living expenses.
Published June 21st, 2010
With nine days left in the month, state budget writers are waiting to see if June revenue projections hit their mark.
In his revised budget in May, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated more than $5.5 billion in income tax receipts and $2.1 billion in bank and corporation tax payments for June.
11:21 PM PDT on Saturday, May 8, 2010
By DAVID OLSON
The Press-Enterprise
The Inland area had the biggest growth in Latino population of any metropolitan area in the U.S. in the 2000s and had one of the biggest losses of white, non-Hispanic residents, a new report found.
The study, released Saturday by the Brookings Institution, in Washington, D.C., also concluded that the region had one of the least-educated work forces in the nation, at a time when an increasing number of jobs require a college degree. The report compared the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas between 2000 and 2008. Most data were from the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual survey of 3 million households. The Inland area includes all of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Legislators were hoping revenue would continue to exceed projections, forestalling deeper cuts and further tax hikes. But April’s total was 30% below what was expected, leaving them with few options.
By Shane Goldmacher, Los Angeles Times
May 4, 2010
Reporting from Sacramento
State tax collections plummeted unexpectedly in April, wiping out months of steady gains that legislators hoped would ease their budget troubles and restore California’s economy faster than experts predicted.
Such hope is now fading fast.
11:45 PM PDT on Thursday, April 8, 2010
By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau
SACRAMENTO – In an election no one could have predicted last summer, voters will go to the polls Tuesday in a special ballot to choose a representative for Riverside County’s 37th Senate District.
John Benoit won the seat in November 2008. Last August, Benoit announced that he was seeking an appointment to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors following the resignation of Roy Wilson, who died days later.
THE WEEK
Republican candidates, especially Whitman, can lavish money on their campaigns. Democratic candidates, especially Boxer, must deal with voters’ anger.
By Cathleen Decker
March 21, 2010
It is not surprising but it is confirmed: Money and frustration are driving California’s elections this year.
A Field Poll released last week demonstrated the dramatic edge that Republican Meg Whitman has given her campaign for governor by spending millions on a prodigious number of television ads: She was pummeling her Republican primary opponent, Steve Poizner, and was newly in a statistical tie with presumptive Democratic nominee Jerry Brown.
It looks like a June primary reelection win maybe on the rocks for Second District County Supervisor Paul Biane.
Biane who is seeking his third term on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors seems to have a lot of challengers these days.
Chaffey Joint Union High School District trustee Arthur Bustamonte filed to run against Biane yesterday.
As lawmakers react to a Supreme Court decision that struck down a portion of election funding laws, the fate of U.S. subsidiaries is uncertain.
By Clement Tan
March 7, 2010
Reporting from Washington – Proposed legislation to block foreign companies from contributing money to U.S. elections could end up affecting well-known companies such as Chrysler, Anheuser-Busch and Citgo, according to legal experts and company representatives.
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/12/2010 02:41:40 PM PST
COLTON – City councilmembers will be barred from criticizing each other in public or responding to citizen complaints during council meetings, under provisions of a new ethics policy set to be considered this month.
The document details conduct for the council and lists specific best practices it would be expected to follow when conducting city business or attending meetings.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Sunday Take
By Dan Balz
Sunday, February 7, 2010
SACRAMENTO People in the nation’s largest state are in a sour mood. They are unhappy with the economy, unhappy with what has happened to their state, unhappy with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and unhappy with the Democratic-controlled legislature.
The recession here began earlier and went deeper than it did nationally, according to estimates. In December, the unemployment rate stood at 12.4 percent, making California the fifth worst state in the nation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office issued a report in November forecasting a turnaround this year but projecting that unemployment would still average more than 10 percent in 2012.
Remember John Hueston?
Hueston is the “special counsel” who brought a civil action against Republican Party official and former San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus and several of Postmus’ former aides and advisors.
His civil lawsuit against Postmus was heralded by the anti-Postmus crowd and unquestioned by the local media.
Maybe it’s time for the media – and more importantly, the board of supervisors – to start asking pertinent questions
More questions continue to be raised regarding the recently released report into the conduct of District Attorney Michael Ramos and his department, involving a former mistress of Ramos.
I last focused on statements made to investigators by Ramos and the number of inconsistencies.
Now let’s look at the treatment of Investigative Technician Cheryl Ristow. Ristow had a 17-month long affair with Ramos in the 2003 to 2005 period of time.
Even though it would now appear it was more of a relationship of necessity and convenience for Ramos.
Wanna have sex? Just pick up the phone.
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Created: 01/27/2010 06:15:55 PM PST
San Bernardino County wants the federal government to pick up the $21 million tab to incarcerate and provide probation services for illegal immigrants.
The funding request is contained in the county’s 2010 priority list for state and federal funds, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
“Immigration is a federal responsibility,” said County Supervisor Neil Derry. “Neither the state nor local governments should be required to bear the burden of the failure of the federal government to secure our borders.”
S&P CITES DEFICIT, SAYS GOVERNOR’S PLAN IS FLAWED
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 6B
On the eve of another budget battle in the Legislature, California’s worst-in-the-nation credit rating took another hit Wednesday.
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services downgraded California a notch to an “A-minus” rating, citing the $19.9 billion deficit and the “impending recurrence of a cash deficiency.”
10:00 PM PST on Tuesday, January 12, 2010
By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise
San Bernardino County supervisors approved the merger of the treasurer-tax collector and auditor/controller’s offices Tuesday, citing it as a cost-saving measure at a time when the county needs to tighten its belt.
The move eliminates the treasurer-tax collector as an independently-elected position, bringing those duties under the auditor/controller’s authority. As part of the swap, the auditor/controller will give up the clerk/recorder functions to the assessor’s office as both deal with property records.
