From the Sun: The proposed initiative would amend the county charter to establish a part-time Board of Supervisors. It would reduce the five supervisors’ staff budgets from $1.5 million per district to $250,000 per office. “Even if a supervisor worked for free, that amount of money could not sustain just the running of the office,” Gonzales said. She said if SEBA is successful, she likely will not run for a third term. “I will give very serious consideration not to run. I have financial obligations that I incurred before I came into office,” Gonzales said, adding that such a drastic cut to her pay and benefits on the Board of Supervisors would prevent her from meeting those financial obligations. “If I am not able to meet my obligations,” she said, “my responsibility is to back out and go and work and earn the money so I can pay my bills.” Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_19807496#ixzz1kcGzft9c
by Administrator with 9 CommentsOf those of you who were county employees when Mark Uffer was County Administrative Officer and went through Service First, do you remember one of his descriptions of a “five percenter”? He used to say that those were the people who woke up in the morning and said, “Damn. I’m alive.” Well that is the kind of county attorney I have had to deal with on one of my cases.
by Administrator with 3 CommentsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 26, 2012 Contact: Mark Standriff (916) 529-9990 ELIZABETH EMKEN FORMALLY ENTERS RACE FOR U.S. SENATE Officially Launches Full Campaign Effort, Assembles Battle Proven Team DANVILLE, CA – Elizabeth Emken, fiscally conservative businesswoman and advocate for developmentally disabled children, is formally announcing her intention to challenge Dianne Feinstein for the U.S. Senate. Having spent the past two months on a listening tour and exploring a possible run, Emken has gained widespread encouragement and support from California’s opinion leaders. At the same time, she has assembled a veteran team of strategists with national and statewide experience that will give Feinstein the most credible challenge she has faced since Governor Wilson defeated her in the 1990 California gubernatorial race.
by Administrator with 1 CommentWe will make the announcement in the next few days, but Josie has picked up an opponent. He is definitely not one of the good old boys and he has committed to having a candidate’s statement in the sample ballot. That alone will bring him some votes. Stay tuned . . . Oh, and p.s.: He despises Andrew Lamberto almost as much as I do.
by Administrator with 1 Comment(San Bernardino) – The San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA) announced today that it is supporting the San Bernardino County Elected Officials Pay Reduction Act. SEBA represents more than 2000 of San Bernardino County’s sworn peace officers. SEBA has been at odds with the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors since last December when the board decided to impose it best, last and final offer on SEBA’s Specialize Peace Officers (SPO) unit. The SPO includes welfare fraud investigators, coroner investigators, and probation corrections officers. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator with 1 CommentPosted on April 14, 2010 by Administrator There was a time in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department when brawn was far more important than brains. As a matter of fact, education beyond high school was looked upon as suspect. Fortunately, over the past 30 years, the powers that be have become more enlightened and an educated deputy is valued. But there are throwbacks even now. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Lieutenant and Apple Valley Councilman Rick Roelle is such one example. Throughout his career, Roelle has had issues with his temper and his ability to control violent outbursts towards suspects and prisoners. Early on in his career as a deputy, Roelle would beat prisoners detained at Central Jail. But one of the most disturbing stories comes not from his early years, but rather after his promotion to Sergeant, a promotion made with full knowledge of Roelle’s penchant for violence. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator with 2 CommentsThis press release was issued earlier today: SAN BERNARDINO, CA — “On January 4th the SEBA Board of Directors unanimously endorsed and authorized SEBA Political Issues Committee to qualify and pass the San Bernardino County Elected Officials Pay Reduction Act. We are funding paid petition circulators who are gathering signatures at a record pace. This charter amendment establishes a part-time Board of Supervisors, reduces their pay and benefits commensurate with part-time status, and reduces their staff budgets from a total of $6 million to approximately $250,000 per office. It is our position that the Board of Supervisors has become a part-time body and should be compensated accordingly. Over the past two years they have met barely 50% of the time. They have delegated much of their constitutional duties to an unelected CEO. Their land use responsibilities are shrinking with annexations and incorporations. In these austere times, part-time work should result in part time pay. This is a very popular charter amendment,” concluded President Leichliter.
by Administrator with 8 CommentsLast Friday the San Bernardino Riverside Central Labor Council held a day of appointment interviewing potential candidates for endorsement. Among those in attendance were none other than our own lovebirds, Victorville City Councilwoman Angela Valles and Apple Valley Town Councilman Rick Roelle. They are both Republicans seeking higher office.
by Administrator with 13 CommentsHESPERIA—The San Bernardino County Fire Department has shuttered one of the three fire stations providing fire protection to this 72 square mile city with a population of 90,173. Fire Station 301, located at 9430 11th Avenue, was shut down on January 14. Previously, one paramedic engine, one brush engine, one paramedic ambulance and one heavy rescue vehicle was staged out of the station. The decision to close the station was made by county fire chief Mark Hartwig in the wake of the city’s inability to provide more funding. Three of the city’s council members and the fire union sponsored a citywide ballot measure in November that would have imposed an $85 per parcel per year tax to pay for augmenting fire service levels. That measure was defeated soundly, garnering only 19 percent support. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator with No CommentsSan Bernardino County’s transportation officials are giving more than casual consideration to the concept of incorporating toll lanes along Interstate-10, Interstate-215 and Interstate-15, the Sentinel has learned. While such additions are not likely to be put in place for a half-decade, roughly three quarters of the 29 voting board members of San Bernardino Associated Governments, which serves as San Bernardino County’s transportation agency, have indicated they are open to examining toll roads as an alternative for improving transportation options in the county. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator with 1 Comment(Los Angeles) – Sutter, California’s First Dog, made quite the stir not long ago when it was announced that he has his own webpage on the State of California website. Sutter, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi owned by Governor Jerry Brown, was an instant hit. It is not clear how Sutter got his name, but between the color of his coat and the history of his hometown, it seems like a perfect name for the state’s top dog. Sutter Brown lists his political affiliations as “Whig.” His site states he is a “Zen Jesuit although I am not burdened with dogma (but I do like dog bones).” He also has had his own Facebook page since not long have his dad, the Governor, took office. He currently boasts over 4000 followers and posts cute, and often times, funny updates about life with in the state capitol. Clearly, Sutter has a sense of humor. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator with No CommentsI have had this story for a week or so and keep forgetting to post it. And, now, of course, I can’t remember all the details. I am not where I can make a call to refresh my memory. So, I will allow all of you to fill in the details. The skeleton of the story is that “72 days on the beach” has been selected to train supervisors statewide. Our question is, What is the name of the class? Here are a few choices:
by Administrator with 13 CommentsThere is a story in today’s Daily Press about the lack of DSL and WiFi in areas of the First District. I would post that article, but I can’t. Why? Because the library’s internet connection is so freaking slow, I can’t pull it up. But the story highlights yet one more of Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt’s failures. It specifically discusses his current hometown of Wrightwood where those who do not already have DSL cannot get DSL and what it is doing to the local economy. The same goes for Phelan, Pinon Hills, Lucerne Valley, and other areas of his current or former district. Brad can’t even take care of his homies.
by Administrator with 8 CommentsDear Sharon Brad Mitzelfelt’s Havasu Lake M.A.C. Secretary, Karen Chamberlain, has entered a not guilty plea in the case of the $7K theft from the Havasu Lake Senior Center. Karen Chamberlain, wife of violent triple felon and fellow Mitzelfelt appointee, Gary Chamberlain, has apparently stalled for time and a disposition reset hearing is scheduled for Feb 7 in Barstow Court.
by Administrator with No CommentsHave you ever made any of these mistakes: Email
by Administrator with No Comments4. San Bernardino, Calif. > Violent crime per 1,000 people: 8.15 (31st highest) > Poverty rate: 34.6% (2nd highest) > Adult population graduated from high school: 64.1% (2nd lowest) > Credit rating: not rated > Population: 210,670 San Bernardino is the third city from California to make our top worst-run cities list. Its economy has arguably been hit harder by the subprime mortgage crisis than any other major U.S. city. Between 2007 and 2010, median home value dropped 55%, from $327,000 to just $147,200. Along with the massive loss in home values, unemployment rates have skyrocketed to the third-highest in the country among the largest cities. The city also has a poverty rate of nearly 35%. Just 64.1% of adults have a high school diploma. Read more: The Best and Worst Run Cities in America – 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/01/05/best-and-worst-run-cities-in-america/#ixzz1jwffEKWm
by Administrator with 1 Commentby Pete Kofod Casey Research Much attention has been paid to the “disappearing middle class” and the “vanishing American Dream.” While the observations are largely accurate, they are also misleading. The traditional three-tier model of the upper, middle and lower class broadly categorizes people according to income and net worth. One significant problem with this model is that membership in any particular class is very much in the eye of the beholder. One man’s “scraping by” is another man’s “opulent living.” This subjective and arbitrary grouping and boundary assessment inevitably gives rise to the simmering class warfare that is starting to rear its ugly head in many Western countries. Such categorization is therefore meaningless at best, if not outright deceptive as it conflates a variety of economic actors. The chief fallacy of this model rests in the fact that it focuses on how much those actors are compensated, as opposed to how and why they are compensated. A far better perspective is perhaps gained using two classes, the Political Class and the Economic Class, with a third class emerging. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator with No CommentsJanuary 18, 2012 by Nathan J. Winograd A vital law to protect animals in California shelters is under siege. If the Governor succeeds in repealing parts of the Hayden Law, animals will be sentenced to certain death in shelters. But we can do something about it. We succeeded once before when the former Governor tried to repeal the law and we can do so again. Please contact the Governor’s Office and tell him, that as a California taxpayer and animal lover, you do not want the Hayden Law provisions to be repealed. (Contact information at the bottom of the post.) If there was any doubt that the Humane Society of the United States has a singular mission when it comes to animals shelters, the Governor’s proposal to repeal part of California’s Hayden Law, shelter reform provisions to orient shelters toward lifesaving, should bring that doubt to an end. Its position on the Governor’s proposal is merely a continuation of a decades-long effort to defend poorly performing shelters and make the task of killing easier. To read the rest of the story, click here.
by Administrator with No Comments