Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
July 30, 2013; 05:32 PM
SACRAMENTO — The election is more than 15 months away, but a Democrat-aligned super PAC already has spent almost $87,000 on TV ads criticizing Rep. Gary Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga.
To story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
July 30, 2013; 04:35 PM
Riverside County supervisors took another step toward reviving a property tax incentive intended to lure homebuyers 55 and older.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
July 30, 2013
San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos has filed for divorce from his wife of 31 years, Gretchen Ramos.
To read post by Imran Ghori in The Press Enterprise Political Empire Blog, click here.
By Lauren Gold
twitter.com/laurenkgold
Posted: 07/30/2013 07:58:14 PM PDT
Updated: 07/31/2013 08:12:25 AM PDT
Database: Proposed funds for the Community Development Block Grant across the U.S.
Community nonprofits and local cities are sweating over a proposed bill by the House of Representatives that would slash Community Development Block Grants by nearly half for many cities in the state.
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
July 30, 2013
California will spend $232.9 billion during the 2013-14 fiscal year if the recently enacted state budget is precisely followed.
By Michael Hiltzik
July 30, 2013, 8:46 p.m.
If you take our federal and state energy authorities at their word, you just might be convinced that the $410-million penalty dropped Tuesday on JPMorgan Chase for manipulating energy markets in California and the Midwest is a big deal.
By Karen Kucher
July 30, 2013 - 5:12 p.m. - Updated 5:40 p.m.
An eighth woman alleging that Mayor Bob Filner made unwelcomed sexual advances toward her came forward Tuesday evening, telling KPBS that Filner in 2011 grabbed her hand and gave her a “saliva-filled kiss” after a business meeting.
By Elise Viebeck and Molly K. Hooper
07/30/13 09:06 PM ET
The Republican civil war on ObamaCare funding is intensifying.
The battle pits powerful rank-and-file freshmen such as Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) against veteran Washington players, including Karl Rove, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/29/2013 03:23:44 PM PDT
View: Legal writ of mandate
SAN BERNARDINO — The group attempting to recall city elected officials filed a writ of mandate on Monday asking the San Bernardino Superior Court to force City Clerk Gigi Hanna to count signatures against James F. Penman that Hanna has rejected as improperly collected.
Greg Cappis, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/29/2013 10:19:17 PM PDT
Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar has been named one of “50 Politicos to watch 2013” by the Washington-based news organization, Politico.
Ryan Carter, City Editor
Posted: 07/29/2013 07:46:51 PM PDT
Shel Bockman, who in 1985 was one of a trio of Cal State San Bernardino faculty to establish the Institute of Applied Research, beginning a regular series of reports that measured the business climate of San Bernardino, died Saturday after a long illness.
He was 77.
Sandra Emerson
Posted: 07/29/2013 07:55:22 PM PDT
Updated: 07/29/2013 07:56:16 PM PDT
UPLAND - The Upland Finance and Economic Development Committee tonight agreed to recommend the proposed 2013-14 fiscal year budget for approval by the City Council.
July 29, 2013; 05:59 PM
A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Wal-Mart on Monday, July 29, a company spokeswoman said, in a case that pitted a Redlands group against the corporation.
To read story by Erin Waldner in The Press Enterprise, click here.
July 29, 2013 6:12 PM
Brooke Self, Staff Writer
IVANPAH• The giant Ivanpah solar plant in the Mojave Desert approximately 110 miles east of Barstow and five miles west of the California-Nevada border will soon go online.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 30, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 30, 2013 - 6:50 am
One of San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s first acts this year – before he became preoccupied with other affairs – was to end the use of cameras to catch motorists running red lights, labeling them “the San Diego version of a traffic trap.”
By Steven Mufson
Published: July 29, 2013
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission unveiled charges against JPMorgan Chase on Monday, accusing the bank of charging California and Midwest electricity grids more than 80 times prevailing power prices through “manipulative bidding strategies.”
Monday, July 29, 2013 - 09:30 a.m.
I went back and checked.
This blog has previously posted about how State Assemblyman Curt Hagman is considering a run for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.
Hagman is termed out at the end of 2014, with no place to land.
Jim Steinberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/28/2013 09:29:54 PM PDT
Updated: 07/28/2013 11:20:23 PM PDT
FONTANA — City Manager Ken Hunt is a survivor.
“He rides the economic waves in good times and bad times,” said Councilman Michael Tahan. “He maneuvers creatively.”
Last week, the City Council approved a five-year contract for Hunt to remain the city’s top administrator, a job he has held since 1999.
CAPITOL BUSINESS BEAT
By Marc Lifsher
July 28, 2013, 7:44 p.m.
SACRAMENTO — In the closing days of the Legislature last year, Gov. Jerry Brown helped forge a compromise on a sweeping overhaul of the workers’ compensation insurance system and persuaded Democratic and Republican lawmakers to pass it into law.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, July 29, 2013
Employer satisfaction with CalPERS dropped during the last two years, a new internal survey found, apparently the result of a “perfect storm” of investment losses, scandal, rising rates and other problems.
By Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine
July 29, 2013
On one coast, we have a prick of a mayor and on the other coast we have a would-be mayor obsessed by his prick. It’s hard to say who’s the creepiest perv: San Diego Mayor Bob Filner or New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner. What we do know is this: neither jackass should be the top elected official of a major American city.
By DYLAN BYERS |
7/28/13 7:59 PM EDT
In a major shakeup for the radio industry, Cumulus Media, the second-biggest broadcaster in the country, is planning to drop both Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from its stations at the end of the year, an industry source told POLITICO on Sunday.
Point of View
James F. Penman
Posted: 07/27/2013 06:54:11 PM PDT
A public office is a public trust and misrepresenting the facts to the public is one of the worst acts a public official can commit.
On Aug. 23, 2010, I advised the City Council that the budget they had just adopted put us into bankruptcy. I urged them to reverse their decision. Instead, the public was told I was “lying” and “grandstanding.”
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/27/2013 06:33:01 PM PDT
Photo gallery: San Bernardino a year later
View: Timeline
But they can’t agree how things went wrong from there.
By Ken Dilanian
July 27, 2013, 6:05 p.m.
WASHINGTON — A reporter recently asked the National Security Agency’s chief a blunt question: Why can’t he come up with a better example of a terrorism plot foiled through the bulk collection of U.S. phone records?
Saturday, July 27, 2013 - 11:00 a.m.
Another tip from inside the office has panned out.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos has filed for divorce from his wife Gretchen Ramos.
July 26, 2013; 06:23 PM
Organizers of a recall campaign in the city of San Bernardino have acknowledged that one of their signature-gatherers provided false information to a resident.
To read column by Imran Ghori and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
July 26, 2013; 06:39 PM
The union representing Riverside County sheriff’s deputies is taking the county to court over what it contends is an improperly applied formula for determining retirement benefits.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/26/2013 08:08:38 PM PDT
Officials from the Santa Margarita Water District in Orange County and Cadiz Inc. held firm Friday in their support of the environmental studies behind a plan to pump Mojave Desert water to Southern California cities, despite a San Bernardino County congressman’s request for a federal environmental review.
Embattled mayor plans to enter residential counseling, but will be briefed on city business
By Craig Gustafs
July 26, 2013 - 12:06 p.m./Updated 4:19 p.m.
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who has been dogged by calls for his resignation over sexual harassment allegations, called his treatment of women “inexcusable” Friday and said he would undergo two weeks of intensive behavioral therapy but not relinquish power.
By BRIAN FALER | 7/25/13 11:15 PM EDT
Democrats’ bright line on taxes isn’t so bright for some.
A sizable bloc of the 16 Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee is contemplating agreeing to Republican demands that any tax overhaul not include tax increases, bucking their party on what has become a signature issue.
By ALEX ISENSTADT | 7/26/13 5:00 AM EDT
Not again.
That’s the message several national GOP strategists and some lawmakers have for Republicans hell bent on waging another fiscal fight this fall.
July 25, 2013; 06:01 PM
SACRAMENTO – Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone, who lost a state Senate race in 2010, is making another run.
To read story by Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
July 25, 2013; 05:35 PM
Starting Friday, July 26, you can do something you haven’t been able to do in four years – walk into Riverside County headquarters on a Friday.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Staff Reports
Posted: 07/25/2013 12:09:10 PM PDT
Updated: 07/25/2013 12:11:20 PM PDT
From San Bernardino to Detroit and in many smaller cities in between, a legal question rages that could change the course of American politics forever. When a city declares bankruptcy, does it still have to pay the retirement benefits promised to its city workers?
Getting this one right is a truly daunting legal challenge.
Now in a $5 million hole, local judiciary closer to balanced budget
July 25, 2013 6:38 PM
Shea Johnson, Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO • San Bernardino County courts remain in a hole of about $5 million even after the state’s Judicial Council on Thursday voted to allocate $6.6 million to the local judiciary.
By Michael B. Marois - Jul 24, 2013 8:25 PM PT
Six years ago, California lawmakers shook hands on a $7.4 billion deal to build lockups for 53,000 prisoners to reduce overcrowding that was so severe a federal judge threatened to set thousands of convicts free.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Friday, Jul. 26, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
There are still some votes to be counted, but it appears certain that Republican rancher Andy Vidak has captured a San Joaquin Valley state Senate seat, and in doing so placed the Democrats’ Senate supermajority in peril.
By David Lawder and Caren Bohan
WASHINGTON | Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:05am EDT
(Reuters) - Another dramatic showdown between Republicans and the White House over federal spending looks inevitable this fall, with scary talk of government shutdowns and default on government debt.
Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2013 6:00 am | Updated: 2:31 pm, Thu Jul 25, 2013.
By TRACY WOOD and NORBERTO SANTANA JR.
The FBI, Internal Revenue Service, district attorney and U.S. attorney’s office have formed a task force to investigate reports of political corruption in Orange County, the FBI confirmed Wednesday.
Thursday, July 25, 2013 - 04:00 p.m.
Redlands-based investment advisory firm Thornes and Associates, and its principle John Thornes, have been barred from the financial services industry.
Thursday, July 25, 2013 - 09:00 a.m.
Here’s some news flowing across the transom this Thursday morning.
Number of lawsuits against disbarred rise
The number of civil lawsuits against disbarred Rancho Cucamonga lawyer James Reiss is now at 17.
July 25, 2013; 06:01 AM
SACRAMENTO –- California voters continue to look favorably upon Hillary Clinton as presidential material, a new survey shows.
To read story by Rachel Uda in The Press Enterprise, click here.
July 24, 2013; 05:55 PM
A developer with a track record for turning around troubled, subsidized housing has a plan to transform the once-notorious Waterman Gardens project in San Bernardino into safe, modern housing.
To read column by Cassie MacDuff in The Press Enterprise, click here.
July 24, 2013; 04:51 PM
Expanding Riverside County’s jail in Indio to ease a jail bed shortage could cost taxpayers $30 million more than expected, county documents show.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Teague Beckwith, Digital First Media
Posted: 07/25/2013 06:27:16 AM PDT
There are 68 days until the next major part of the Affordable Care Act kicks in.
By Jenna Johnson
Published: July 24, 2013
The U.S. Senate approved a plan Wednesday to restructure the government’s education loan program, tying interest rates to the market and imposing limits on how high those rates can go.
By David Hawkings
Posted at 6:13 p.m. on July 24
President Barack Obama’s effort to pivot Washington’s attention back onto the economy — and claim the public opinion upper hand before his budget battle with Congress is rejoined this fall — had all the hallmarks of a recent State of the Union address.
By Ken Dilanian and Michael A. Memoli
July 24, 2013, 4:32 p.m.
WASHINGTON – After furious lobbying by the Obama administration and Republican leaders, the House of Representatives on Wednesday narrowly defeated an amendment that would have curtailed the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of U.S. phone calling records revealed recently by Edward Snowden.
Zimmerman and another man helped family to safety after SUV rollover, deputies say.
By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
6:40 p.m. EDT, July 24, 2013
George Zimmerman attorney Mark O’Mara told reporters Wednesday that a family Zimmerman helped rescue from an SUV crash in Seminole County last week backed out of a planned news conference due to concerns about being linked to the controversial former defendant.
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/23/2013 07:48:38 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO — An investigation has concluded that the man who was videotaped making misleading statements in an apparent effort to recall Councilwoman Wendy McCammack worked for a subcontractor affiliated with the main recall group, and he and any signatures he collected have been removed from the field, campaign manager Michael McKinney said Tuesday.
July 23, 2013; 09:22 PM
Technical problems continue to delay the launch of a $172 million radio network intended to bring Riverside County’s public safety communications into the 21st century.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/23/2013 06:30:24 PM PDT
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday extended a temporary moratorium on commercial solar energy projects by 10 months, 15 days in order to set design standards and land-use parameters for such projects.
Lori Fowler, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/23/2013 08:43:42 PM PDT
Updated: 07/24/2013 12:36:15 AM PDT
View: Complaint
The City of Upland has filed a lawsuit against its insurers claiming bad faith and breach of contract by the two companies regarding the 2004 Colonies lawsuit.
July 23, 2013 10:59 AM
Brooke Self, Staff Writer
HINKLEY• A new class action lawsuit representing at least 100 Hinkley residents who were not a part of the original litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., was filed in San Bernardino County Court last week, according to the lead attorney on the case.
By Alejandro Lazo
July 23, 2013, 11:36 a.m.
New California foreclosure filings rose considerably in the first quarter over the second but were still down 53% from the same period a year prior and held to their second-lowest level in seven years.
By Laurel Rosenhall
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2013 - 6:53 am
Public approval of Gov. Jerry Brown has dipped from a high point earlier this year, but he continues to enjoy support from a majority of California voters, according to a Field Poll being released today.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2013 - 6:48 am
Jerry Brown’s second governorship got off to a rocky start as he squabbled with both Republicans and his fellow Democrats over the state budget’s deficit and finally resorted to fiscal sleight of hand to balance it on paper.
By Abby Sewell
July 23, 2013, 10:30 p.m.
With Los Angeles County government’s revenue on the mend, the Board of Supervisors approved the first pay hike in five years for sheriff’s deputies and probation officers.
Domestic Surveillance
By AP / Donna Cassata and Josh Lederman July 23, 20
(WASHINGTON) — The Obama administration squared off with skeptical lawmakers Tuesday over efforts to terminate the government’s authority to collect phone records of millions of Americans, a proposition that exposed sharp divisions among members of Congress.
By Steven T. Dennis
Roll Call Staff
July 23, 2013, 6:39 p.m.
McConnell noted that he expected the White House to push for sequester relief, but he rejected the idea of using new revenue to offset sequester cuts.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - 11:15 p.m.
The Democratic super-majority in the California Senate is now razor thin.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - 10:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - 10:30 p.m.
Ontario Mayor Paul Leon, a no-party preference candidate, and Democratic Candidate Freddie Rodriguez, will compete in a September runoff election.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - 06:00 p.m.
San Bernardino County’s investment pool has received the highest credit rating for safety and stability.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - 09:30 a.m.
Just to be fair, we wanted to follow-up on our story titled, Blowing that horn!, published last Saturday. So we took a look at the top District Attorney’s in the state to see how active they are in blowing their own horns in the media.
What we found was very interesting!
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/22/2013 08:51:59 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO — The statements made in a video where a man carrying a petition to recall Councilwoman Wendy McCammack claims he is gathering signatures “to get her back on the council” is deceptive — all sides agree on that.
July 22, 2013; 08:18 PM
A law enforcement union that fired a Temecula man in 2005 must reinstate him and immediately begin paying his $98,235-a-year salary, ruled the federal judge who oversaw a whistleblower lawsuit by the dismissed union official.
To read story by Richard K. De Atley in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Canan Tasci, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/22/2013 05:39:43 PM PDT
Updated: 07/22/2013 10:33:25 PM PDT
Seven Democrats, one Republican and one independent are running in Tuesday’s election for the 52nd Assembly District seat.
By Annalise Mantz
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 23, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 23, 2013 - 8:37 am
California voters’ approval of President Barack Obama has plummeted to just over 50 percent, according to the Field Poll released Monday.
By Abby Livingston
Roll Call Staff
July 22, 2013, 5:08 p.m.
The California Labor Federation has issued a “Do Not Hire” list that includes six consultants who allegedly took part in creating direct mail that slammed two Democratic state lawmakers for supporting unions in their races against Democratic challengers.
By Jim Christie
SAN FRANCISCO | Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:26pm EDT
(Reuters) - California’s third-largest city, San Jose, and its employee unions faced off in court on Monday over public pension reforms in a case that has major implications for other local governments across the state trying to rein in the costs of retirement benefits.
By Ed Mendel | 07/22/13 5:00 AM PST
Bond insurers who walked away from mediation last year before Stockton filed for bankruptcy are at the table this summer. A deal could avoid a precedent-setting legal showdown on whether public pensions can be cut in bankruptcy.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, Jul. 23, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 23, 2013 - 6:49 am
California’s four living former governors have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of current Gov. Jerry Brown’s plea for relief from a court order to drop the state’s prison population by nearly 10,000 more inmates.
Monday, July 22, 2013 - 10:00 a.m.
A long-time Redlands-based investment advisor, who is at the center of allegations he misappropriated $4.2 million of client funds is leaving the securities business.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/21/2013 06:14:19 PM PDT
Updated: 07/21/2013 06:14:27 PM PDT
UPLAND — The City Council will not consider its 2013-14 fiscal year budget during Monday’s council meeting as previously planned.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Monday, Jul. 22, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Monday, Jul. 22, 2013 - 6:22 am
The state constitutions of Michigan and California have almost identical provisions prohibiting what lawyers call “impairment of contract.”
By Ed Mendel
Monday, July 22, 2013
Bond insurers who walked away from mediation last year before Stockton filed for bankruptcy are at the table this summer. A deal could avoid a precedent-setting legal showdown on whether public pensions can be cut in bankruptcy.
By Alexander Bolton - 07/21/13 02:15 PM ET
President Obama talked earlier this year of a Democratic takeover of the House, but instead his party is now in danger of losing the Senate.
Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 12:30 p.m.
A photo collage that speaks volumes.
Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 11:00 a.m.
Here’s some news flowing across the transom last week. In cased you missed it!
Detroit files bankruptcy
Yes, this time it’s Detriot. That’s a city located in the state of Michigan. For those that didn’t know!
Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 10:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, July 22, 2013 - 09:30 a.m.
Elected officials just never learn.
It’s true!
You know that old saying about living in glass houses?
July 20, 2013; 03:35 PM
Tuesday is a special Election Day in the Pomona-to-Fontana 52nd Assembly District, where nine candidates are on the ballot: seven Democrats, a Republican and a no-party preference.
The race has gotten a lot more interesting in its closing days. Apparently spooked by private polling, Democrats and their allies have poured money into a district that President Barack Obama carried by a 2-to-1 margin last fall.
To read column by Jeff Horseman and Jim Miller in The Press Enterprise, click here.
Video shows false statements made related to recall effort
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/21/2013 09:55:31 AM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO — A video put online late Saturday night shows what appears to be a man attempting to gather signatures to recall Councilwoman Wendy McCammack by falsely claiming that he works with the city and is attempting to protect McCammack.
July 20, 2013 6:02 PM
Jim E. Winburn, Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE • Rep. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, took part in a bipartisan action meant to recover America’s confidence in the ability of Congress to work together.
By Dan Walters
[email protected]
Published: Sunday, Jul. 21, 2013 - 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Sunday, Jul. 21, 2013 - 7:54 am
The Bee has published an online database about lobbying expenditures during the 2011-12 legislative session totaling $564 million, up about 5 percent from the previous two-year period.