Posts Tagged ‘greg priamos’

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: A CITY IN A WORLD OF PAIN! CONSTITUENTS BITE THE BULLET WHILE CITY LEADERS STAY MEDICATED…

Posted: April 21, 2012 in Uncategorized
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What the Press Enterprise has not reported, is that these rate hikes were brought to the attention of the City Council and the Mayor many many times over by Self Proclaimed City Auditor Vivian Moreno.  With denials and dismissive responses from Councilmembers such as Mike Gardner and Andy Melendrez, both incidently candidates for mayor.  We are not critics as the PE would like to state, but responsible and educated citizens reading the city’s own public records, and asking the questions which the constituents really want to know.   Many times the answers are dismissive and contradictory to the public records at hand.  How should we as citizens respond if not to continue to ask the questions, until they can finally admit the truth.  If public records state their will be an increase from 2012 to 2013 their will be an increase, if not, correct the records.  But now, it appears that the city has been compelled to admit the truth.  We warned of the purple pipe reclamation program, with an increase of $2.00.  A program that does not benefit the citizens in Riverside, especially when the City of Riverside is one of the few cities which owns their own water rights.  We are only at forty percent capacity the rest we sell to other municipalities at a profit.  If the water table was to exceed the fifty foot mark from the surface, this would endager building and infrastructure foundations.  Therefore the water table must be monitored closely and harvested accordingly.  Accordingly, sewer rates from July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2013 for a Basic Multi-Family Dwelling have increase from $14.94 to $25.77, this is an increase of 42%.  Currently $21.26 as of  July 1, 2011 to $23.97 July 1, 2012, and increase of 13%.  Sewer rates going up, $2.00 in July 2012, up to $3.00 in 2013. 

The tiered water and electrical rate hikes, by manipulation of the number scales.  A new charge for mosquito abatement for some household at $8.00 per household.  I just found out that back alley I must clear of weeds every summer is the city’s property.  In addition this is under duress of a $1,000 fine for not clearing the city’s property.  Mad yet?  In addition,  no one resident receives credit for cost and time of cleaning the city’s property.  Even the fire department is beginning to charge fees for services.  You would think that our tax money would suffice.  But it appears that these may have been implemented to sustain the unsustainable, especially the pensions.  These were labor negotiations by city leadership that were not in the best interest of the citizens.  Storm drain maintenance hikes from $2.83 to $5.82, to sustain storm drain maintenance, street sweeping and of course which leads to a reason to cite constituents with parking tickets to sustain new parking projects etc.  Trash rates will go up $0.46 per month beginning in July 2012.  All constituents were denied a real say in the matter or were misinformed.  We can say ‘fiduciary negligence.’  But it won’t stop there, there are the bonds which are coming due as a result of the Renaissance debacle.  The city will be blaming Governor Brown and the state for banning redevelopment, for the money they say will sustain the payment on those bonds.  But that’s not how it works.  The State of California stopped Redevelopment because of the abuse.  They will blame the state, while the city will not take responsibility, because that will mean they are now apt at making good decisions.  But what you find that does not change in the long run.  Because in the long run it is you who will have to pay for it in increase property taxes.

“When I see a spade I call it a spade…”   - Oscar Wilde

It is no wonder that city residents feel they are habitually terrorized by the city and code enforcement agents who slowly drive by residents home to see what kind of violations they can find. Yes many have quietly said it could be Cuba or even the Third Reich, but I have to continue to remind them we live in a city called Riverside, also know as “The All American City”.

Is Redevelopment really over?  The State of California says it is, but will municipalities create something different?  Originally, Redevelopment was created to combat blight.  Areas of cities that didn’t contribute to the overall tax structure.  As Redevelopmentevolved it tended to benefit friends and others close to the Mayor, City Council and Management, rather than the overall community.  Established businesses which were contributing to the economy were then hit with another tool, ‘eminent domain.’  But the irony is, that the visionaries of government who saw an illusionary and unattainable conception created in essence blight.   Currently what we have downtown that is blighted and created by the Renaissance program under the supervision of the Mayor and City Council at a cost of close to 2 billion dollars to the taxpayer.  In addition, does not make a penny for the community as it was intended. They can blame it on the loss of redevelopment, but it couldn’t logically work with it.  Another improvisational plan appears to be in the works.  Infrastructure Finance Districts, originally created and intended to work one way, just as redevelopment, will they be strategically morphed again as redevelopment was, to the benefit of a few?  While on one hand, the taxpayer are just feeling protected by the end of redevelopment, others are recreating an alternative gravy train.  Let’s make no bones about it, Pavlovian would be jealous of how much salivation exudes in the mouths of politicians on this thought. Yes you may say it is a dogs world, but here’s how infrastructure finance districts work: a group of property owners (or residents if there are more than a dozen) in the specified area vote to allow a portion of property taxes that would ordinarily go to the general fund to be diverted to pay for construction and improvements to public property — things like libraries, parks and recreational facilities.  But ordinarily, property owners such as resident are not likely to go to the city and ask for them to place it on a ballot initiative.  So what may happen, would be the city goes to the people with a ballot initiative that the city would benefit the property owners.  This is quite slick… this is what would happen, financially speaking, property taxes would not go up, but the general fund doesn’t get as much money. The City would go along with the decreased amount in the general fund because, in theory, these public enhancements cause nearby property values to rise, ultimately putting more property taxes into the general fund in the future. But currently the City’s has been spending more than they are taking in.  So again, will this new concept debacle cause additional increases in property taxes at some point?  Probably so.. therefore people need to think before they vote, those who don’t vote, need to vote.  If you don’t vote, you are allowing your representatives to be truly unattended.  It is your duty to be part of the checks and balance system which protects our community.  Without it, we will continue to be afraid of government, whereby government should be afraid of the people.  We therefore hae to ask ourselves, does government fear us?  Or do we fear the government?  Thomas Jefferson said it best, “When governments fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny”.   Government is our servant, not our master!”  When the people fear the government, as with code enforcement abuse, tax abuse, service fees abuse, hidden tax abuse, a tiered utility rate abuse and the feeling that nothing can be done…you have allowed government to have victory.

More to come, new article in the Press Enterprise, again posted for a short amount of time then buried but worth reading, because it is what citizens as us, who the city has called ‘misinformed’, ‘idiots’ or if a woman, ‘bitches’, the allegations of falsification of records.  If it at all matters, Interum Public Works Director, Tom Boyd is now named Public Works Director.

It is now time time to ask the Public Works Director the question the constituents have been waiting to ask, with regards to bids, contracts, change orders and accountability of which he has taken part of .

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!  TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED.  I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO ACLU.  RATED ONE TWO STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS..  TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST… WE WILL HAVE TO ASK GREGORY ABOUT THAT ONE ( OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT HIS PEOPLE)… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!   COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR FOR CONTACT!   THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM 

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: THE LORD’S DAY: A GOOD DAY TO DRESS UP AND BUST UP AMERICAN OCCUPIERS IN THE ALL AMERICAN CITY?

Posted: November 6, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Somehow the City Fathers and Mother, have done something right.  Whatever it is, we are finally seeing growing amount of visitors in Downtown Riverside.  They are shopping, eating at local restaurants etc.  Antonious Pizza owner Teresa Andrawis said protesters have given her business a little boost.  They are called Occupy Riverside.  But today,  the Lord’s Day, the City of Riverside, under the leadership of Chief Sergio Diaz decided it was a good day to end, what many consider a legal and lawful constitutional right to assemble.  TMC was also told that the Occupy Riverside’s permit is still active, but we were also told some weeks back by an Occupyer that they would be there till Saturday, November 5, 2011.   Therefore, the question remains.  Regardless, SWAT dressed up in full tactical gear, glocks locked and loaded, and onward went Emerald City’s finest to disrupt and arrest the occupying Americans participating in a legal assembly.  Why the disruption?  Is it possible the city feared the repercussions of Oakland?  Eleven arrested, tents disasembled and removed, but who’s to argue with a .45?  Riverside PE, how come your not reporting this?  Hopefully you didn’t receive that infamous lecture from the Chief on responsible reporting? OK, I was just joking..  Then there was the infamous bottle of soda that started it all, as stated by City of Riverside’s Chief Sergio Diaz himself, according to the PE.  So then there would be broken glass?  Protestors stated it wasn’t a bottle of soda, as the Chief indicates, it was a full can of soda.  LA Times reports that allegedly a full can of soda was thrown at the officers.  Another report stated a plastic bottle of water and a full can of soda was pelted.  These have now been labeled lethal weapons in Emerald City or The All American City 1998.  Many have said, “lethal weapons!”  Yes, but this is River City USA.  You haven’t seen nothing yet, just wait till the police reports come out.  But after all was said and done, the lightning and thunder then came to the City of Riverside…. and some began to ponder if this was an angry response from a higher source above, after all it was the Lord’s Day?

UPDATE: 11/07/2011: ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY CBS, THE ELEVEN PROTESTERS ARRESTED WERE CHARGED WITH ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, ASSAULT ON A POLICE OFFICER AND RESISTING ARREST ACCORDING TO JOHN CARPENTER OF THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UPDATE: TMC takes that back, thanks PE,  RIVERSIDE PRESS ENTERPRISE POST STORY. , THE LOS ANGELES TIMES REPORT , STRICT RULES IMPLEMENTED BY CITY OF RIVERSIDE FOR OCCUPYERS AS REPORTED BY NBC , CHIEF SERGIO DIAZ INTERVIEW WITH NBC,  THE LOMA LINDA PATCH , CBS COVERAGE REPORT , KTLA LOS ANGELES REPORT.

YOUTUBE VIDEO LINKS OF THE SWAT RAID: VIDEO ONE , VIDEO TWO , VIDEO THREE , VIDEO FOUR , VIDEO FIVE  (TWO INCIDENCES OF RPD THROWING WOMEN TO THE GROUND, ONE THROWN WHILE HANDCUFFED HITS CONCRETE FACE FIRST), VIDEO SIX .

Occupier visually disturbed by officers hand on his shoulder, while he repeatedly ask him to remove as he does not have his permission to do so.

Occupier pleads with black police officer not hurt her friends in the chain.

Armed RPD confront two woman in the chain first…

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.  If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.  The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.                        – Thomas Jefferson [1802], 3rd President of the United States.

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”
                      — Harry S. Truman,[August 8,1950] 33rd President of the United States.

UPDATE: SOME HAVE CONSIDER IT STRANGE THAT ON OCTOBER 11, 2011, THE RIVERSIDE CHIEF OF POLICE, SERGIO DIAZ,  WALKED MAIN STREET UNKNOWNINGLY IN A SUIT, IN COGNITO, ALLEGEDLY ACCUSING CERTAIN RIVERSIDE OCCUPIERS OF BEING DRUG DEALERS… 

UPDATE: 10/08/2011: ALLEGEDELY, DO WE NEED TO GET THE OCCUPIERS OUT BEFORE THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, THE DAY AFTER THANKGIVING?  WILL WE FIND A MORE AGRESSIVE APPROACH THEN WHAT WAS SEEN SUNDAY?  THEN PLACING THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE ON THE MAP WITH GREECE, OAKLAND AND NEW YORK?

UPDATE: 11/08/2011: PROTESTER AT TODAYS RIVERSIDE CITY HALL STATES THAT RIVERSIDE POLICE FALSIFIED THE CLAIM AND CHARGE OF THE INFAMOUS BOTTLE OF WATER.  THE PROTESTOR STATED HE WAS THE ONE THAT THROUGH THE PLASTIC BOTTLE OF WATER.  HE WAS PART OF HOLDING THE LINE, DRANK FROM HIS BOTTLE OF WATER, TOSSED IT TO HIS FRIEND TO REFILL, FRIEND THROUGH BACK THE BOTTLE.  WITH ALL THE PHONE CAMERAS, CAMERAS AND VIDEO RECORDERS, NO BOTTLE USED AS A PROJECTILE WAS FILMED OR SEEN AS CLAIMED BY POLICE CHIEF SERGIO DIAZ.

ANOTHER STATED WHO WAS LOST HIS JOB TWO WEEKS AGO, “NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU ARREST, OR BEAT ME, THE PROBLEM IS JUST NOT GOING TO GO AWAY”.

ANOTHER STATED, NEWS AGENCIES  SUCH AS CNN AND THE NEW YORK TIMES WERE ASKING HER IF POLICE BRUTALITY WAS A REGULAR THING?” OCCURRENCE IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE

ANOTER STATED CHARGED WITH RESISTING ARREST, WHILE BEING PINNED UNDER A COLLAPSED CANOPY.

KAREN RENFROE GIVE THE COUNCIL A LECTURE ON FREEDOM AND LIBERTY, GETS A STANDING OVATION.

SOMEONE IN THE BACK OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CREATED A STIR, INTERRUPTING A SPEAKER AT THE PODIUM, AND HAD TO BE CORRECTED BY MAYOR LOVERIDGE.  IT APPEARS THAT THE MAYOR KNOWS HIM BY NAME.  HE WAS IDENTIFIED AS SALVADOR SANTANA, A LOCAL RIVERSIDE BLOGGER OF THE TRUTH PUBLICATION.  COUNCILMEN STEVE ADAMS, MIKE GARDNER AND CHRISTOPHER MACARTHUR ARE PAYING SUPPORTERS OF THIS SITE ACCORDING TO CITY 460 DOCUMENTS. 

         

THE SITE CLAIMS THAT THE LAST PAYMENT COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS MADE TO THIS SITE FOR CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING PURPOSES WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $440.00, BUT NOT IN ANYWAY INDICATED ON ANY 460 DOCUMENT FORM. 

ACCORDING TO THE PUBLICATION, FORMER COUNCILMAN FRANK SCHIAVONE APPEARS TO ALSO HAVE MADE A CALL OF SUPPORT TO THIS PUBLICATION.  INTERESTING DERROGATORY COMMENTS TOWARDS WOMEN ON THIS SITE FROM SUPPORTERS.  SITE SUPPORTER COUNCILMAN MIKE GARDNER SHOWN WITH FORMER COUNCILMAN ED ADKINSON, NOW ALSO RUNNING FOR MAYOR. 

UPDATE: 11/09/2011: REPORTS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OCCUPIERS ARE COMING IN NAMING OFFICERS ANGOLA AND MUNIZ.  WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS OF THE POLICE PROCESSING CENTER.  PROFESSIONALITY IN QUESTION AND THE TREATMENT OF THE WOMEN.   OTHER SOURCES STATING THE TWO WERE ALLEGEDLY FIRED AT ONE POINT, THEN REHIRED DUE TO ALLEGATIONS OF EVIDENCE PLANTING AND TAMPERING.  MANY ARE ASKING WHO ARE THE REAL CRIMINALS. ONE OF THE FEMALE OCCUPIERS WHO WAS NOT PART OF THE CHAIN, SAID SHE WAS PICKED OUT BY AN OFFICER FOR WHAT SHE APPARENTLY SAID TO HIM. THE OFFICER THAN TOLD HER SHE WAS BEING ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING HIM.  WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE UNDERWORLD OF THE RIVERSIDE POLICE PROCESSING CENTER CANNOT BE WITNESSED BY CIVILIANS.  WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR ARE THE DECISION MAKERS OF WHAT OCCURS IN THE CITY, THEY ARE THE LEADERS, THE POLICE ARE ONLY THEIR FOOT SOLDIERS WHO FOLLOW THEIR ORDERS UNDER THE COMMAND OF CHIEF OF POLICE SERGIO DIAZ.   KEEP CONNECTED MORE TO COME.

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE,  AND PROBABLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT EVER REASON, AND THAT’S ALL WE’RE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S, COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT!  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC WANT’S THE DIRT!

Posted: October 11, 2011 in Uncategorized
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CLICK ON THE PIC FOR THE HD EFFECT!

TMC staff thanks all who have supported us and quietly supported us.  In trying times we look for leadership and find none. There are new fees, fines and taxes.   We find gross fiscal mismanagement of funds.  We find government enacting new restrictions of what we can and cannot do on our own properties.  Restrictions and higher fees for violations on vehicles. All we ask, is that the government balance their check book, we have to.  TMC wants the City of Riverside dirt, if you have it, we want it, for example, mismanagement of funds, affairs, illegal property transfers etc.  Email us anonymously at thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com with your dirt.

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THAT’S ALL WE’RE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!

UPDATE: THE DIRT IS ROLLING IN, AND IT’S ALMOST TIME TO PICK-UP THE TRASH!  THANKS RIVERSIDE!

TALKING ABOUT TRASH, DAN BERSTEIN OF PE IS REPORTING FORMER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON FILES A CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE ALLEGING A TRASH TRUCK BACKED UP INTO HIS 2011 DODGE.  CLAIM AGAINST TAXPAYER NEGLIGENCE: $1,075.00, BUT ACTUAL COST $1,434.00.  BUT IF YOU EVER LOOKED AT HIS DISCRETIONARY FUND AND THE CITY’S GENERAL FUND, NON OF THE NUMBERS MAKE SENSE EITHER.

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC CONTINUES TO REQUEST A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE CURRENT CITY HALL BOOKS!

Posted: September 27, 2011 in Uncategorized
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INTERESTING STUFF COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, AND I DON’T MEAN THE CITIES LEAKY SEWERS.  THERE IS NO DOUBT WHY GREG IS HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER INCOGNITO THIS TIME.  ACCORDING TO CITY COUNCIL PERSON NANCY HART, HE WOULD NEVER STEER US WRONG.  WELL NANCY HART, I HOPE YOU ARE RIGHT, BECAUSE ISN’T THE CITY OF BELL SUING THEIR EX-CITY ATTORNEY FOR NEGLIGENCE AND FAULTY LEGAL ADVICE?  LET’S NOT FORGET, THE EX-BELL CITY ATTORNEY WAS ALSO AN ATTORNEY FOR BB&K.  THE VERY FIRM OUR CITY ATTORNEY CONTINUES TO SEEK WHEN IN NEED OF ADVICE OR TO PERFORM OTHER LEGAL ACTIVITIES.   IT ALSO APPEARS THAT THE CITY IS COMFORTABLE IN IMPLEMENTING VERBAL BILATERAL CONTRACTS, SINCE NO HARD CONTRACTS ARE USED ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS IN RETAINING BB&K.  ILLEGAL OR JUST BAD BUSINESS?

HOLDING TRUE TO THEIR MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the City Attorney’s Office and BB&K is to provide excellent and ethical legal advice, effective legal representation, and other quality legal services for the City Council, City officers, and City employees in order that they may lawfully attain the City Council’s goals and other department program outcomes without undue risk to the City. 

WHO WILL BE HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER NEXT WHEN THE AUDITOR COMES ASKING QUESTIONS? CHECK BACK WEEKLY…THAT IS, EVERY CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY! WE’LL EVEN PROVIDE THE DIRECT LINK SO YOU CAN CHECK THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT BE DONE BY STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG OF THE CITY HALL BOOKS.   WITH A NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER, SCOTT BARBER, THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE NEEDS BASELINE NUMBER AS DONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO ASSURE BALANCED NUMBERS AND TO CLEAR POSSIBLE DISCREPANCIES OF THE GENERAL LEDGER BOOKS. IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, THE NUMBERS WILL ALWAYS COME UP RIGHT! 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THAT’S ALL TMC HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE FOR NOW…

UPDATE: PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SIOBHAN FOSTER RESIGNS TO TAKE A POSITION IN PASADENA, AS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR UNDER CITY MANAGER MICHAEL BECK.  NO DOUBT A GOOD TIME TO STEP OUT.  BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THERE! ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, SIOBHAN FOSTER WAS “APPOINTED” BY MICHAEL BECK TO THIS POSITION, THEREFORE OVERSTEPPING THE AUTHORITY OF THE KINGDOM OF RIVERSIDE. GET IT , SHE COULDN’T SAY NO! YES, IT ALL GETS WEIRDER BY THE MINUTE.  WHY LEAVE YOUR FAMILY, WHEN YOU HUSBAND, BARRY FOSTER, IS MORENO VALLEY’S ECONOMIC DIRECTOR?  IS A VOLCANO READY TO EXPLODE IN THE CALDERA KNOWN AS CITY HALL?   NOW MICHAEL BECK ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER UNDER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON.  THE OFFICE CAME UNDERFIRE VIA THE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGALLY PURCHASED GLOCK FIREARMS, BADGES AND COLD PLATES.  FOSTER LEAVES AMIDST THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY EX-CITY EMPLOYEES.  FIRED DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY RAYCHELE STERLING ALLEGED THE STEERING OF CONTRACTS WITHIN FOSTER’S OFFICE TO A SELECTIVE OR PREFERENTIAL GROUP OF CONTRACTORS.  FIRED CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR SEAN GILL, ALLEGED FOSTER IGNORED HIS CONCERNS REGARDING COST OVERRUNS AND THAT SHE DIRECTED HIM TO GATHER INCRIMINATING INFORMATION ON OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO THREATENED TO EXPOSE WRONGDOING AT THE CITY.  OTHERS HAVE OPENLY QUESTIONED HER QUALIFICATIONS AND ABILITIES FOR THE POSITION SHE HELD..  TWO HIGH PROFILE EXECUTIVES HAVE NOW LEFT THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THE OTHER BEING CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON IN AUGUST.  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, IS THEIR MORE INFORMATION COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THAN WE KNOW OF?  WHO WILL BE NEXT TO JUMP SHIP? BELINDA GRAHAM, GREG PRIAMOS, DEANNA LORSEN, TINA ENGLISH, TOM BOYD, SCOTT BARBER, RHONDA STROUT, PAUL SUNDEEN? THE PRESSURE IS ON!  GOOD LUCK PASADENA!

CITY OF RIVERSIDE VS. PORT OF LONG BEACH: COURT STATES THE ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL CAN PASS WITHOUT GREASING EMERALD CITY!

Posted: August 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Who’s driving this thing? Steve, put a little elbow grease in that crane.  Greg what do you mean we dropped the case, we’re making a killing out here in container fees!

According to the City of Riverside, this was all about the increase in train traffic running through the City and causing an increased level of pollution.  But, after three court rulings against the City of Riverside, they decided not to continue to hold the Port of Long Beach hostage for hopes of receiving a container fee ransom.  Why did the City sue?   Were they running out of money?  The container fees were to be used for newly constructed underpasses allowing local traffic not to be disrupted.  But awhile back, the city could have also considered the idea of re-routing the cargo trains closer to
the Santa Ana River as many had suggested, considering the port was expanding and local traffic in and around the city would increase.  But it appeared it was never seriously considered.

Mayor Ron Loveridge did take notice of the repercussions of the law suit,  when he stated, “I think it is time for us to join the region (in) working on enhancing the two ports.   Our lawsuits were slowing that down.”  Slowing things down, why did the city initiate it in the first place?  Did the city  think it was all quite frivolous to began with?   Well in reality, maybe these cases were just frivolous, and in the terminology City Attorney Greg Priamos would use, the lawsuits  “have no merit.”  But Riverside Councilman Steve Adams, a major proponent of the lawsuits, said he doesn’t see dropping them as
a sign of failure. He said the city’s approach showed other agencies the seriousness of the problem and got them to listen. He now is working on a national strategy that would include a container fee charged at all U.S ports.  Suing the ports, Adams said, “was the right thing to do at the right time, and this is the right thing to do now.”  So now it’s not a local issue,  looks as Steve is now  working on a national strategy for adding a container fee, which will probably be added to the final cost of goods to the consumer.

The cost to the taxpayer has also come into question.  City Attorney Greg Priamos estimated the city spent between $350,000 and $450,000 on outside legal counsel.  Could it be Best Best & Krieger?  He also stated that a considerable amount of staff time was dedicated to the case, though he declined to put a dollar figure on the in-house work.   Possibly “attorney client privilege” scenario?   Thanks Greg!  Was it about $350,000.00, or was it $450,000.00?  I just don’t remember because I can’t read a ledger book, or because I and my outside legal counsel, BB&K,  appear not to need no stinkin contracts?  Contracts you say, well my friends contracts just do not exist in Emerald City with BB&K, but it allegedly appears as if verbal bilateral one does.  Well, what the heck, plus or minus a $100,000, what’s the big deal?  It’s not my money.   That’s transparency for you.  But we did manage to find a signed agreement between City Attorney Greg Priamos and Grover Trask, ex Riverside County District Attorney now working for BB&K,  when they needed representation for Chief Russell Leach.  There is no doubt this is simply and purely negligence of these public servants fiduciary duty to the tax payer, not to mention the unknown additional cost to the taxpayer on in-house staff time.

“I think it was three strikes and we’re out,” Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge said Thursday.  Well your right Mayor,  it’s just a ball game,  0 for the Taxpayer, 1 for BB&K somewhere around $350K  to $450K.  Didn’t the City  know what kind of pitcher they were dealing with when they couldn’t even get to first base?

LETTER WRITTEN BY JOHN HUSING & BOB WOLF TO THE EDITORS OF NEWS AGENCIES:

Editor:

In filing a misguided lawsuit aimed at stopping expansion at the Port of Long Beach, Riverside’s City Council has taken direct aim at the health of one of the Inland Empire’s primary blue collar job generators:  international trade and logistics.  After adding 76,200 jobs from 1990-2007, the sector has lost 7,900 in 2008-2009, largely due to falling imports through our ports, much of which is processed by inland warehousing workers.  Some of this decline will be permanent because national retailers are now diverting shipments elsewhere due to the constant lawsuits that make our ports a
decision-making disaster zone.  In just two years, the ports have lost 4% of their U.S. market.  Riverside is contributing to the chaos.

This is strange behavior from a city where 2008 Census data show one of 12 resident-workers is employed in logistics, and where 10,200 of the city’s fourth quarter 2008 jobs were in it, with a payroll of $449 million and workers averaging $43,800 a year.  These jobs could grow because the port slowdown has left 18.7% of the city’s industrial space empty.  They are badly needed jobs given that 46.3% of the city’s adults and 47.8% of those in Riverside County have not had a single college class.  Where else will this population get decent jobs with construction and manufacturing in deep trouble and service sector jobs like retailing, restaurant and hotel work paying at or near the minimum wage.

Why would the City Council do this?  Clearly, they are frustrated by the railroads bringing international cargo through the city and clogging its 26 at-grade track crossings.  They want money to build overpasses and apparently thought that throwing a punch at the ports would gain attention.  But, even if the lawsuit wins, there is no port funding to pay for off-port projects. At this writing, Riverside’s suit is the only obstacle to the Port of Long Beach starting construction on a long delayed Middle Harbor Project that will employ 10,000 man-years of construction workers and  permanently create 14,000 workers while also significantly improving Southern California’s environment.  Riverside has, in effect, become the principal barrier to a major environmental and green job effort.

Instead, the City Council is turning a city known for fostering regional cooperation, into a Southern California pariah.  To cite just one likely result:  In 2008, Senator Lowenthal of Long Beach tried to get funding for the off-port infrastructure construction that Riverside wants with a bill levying a fee on ocean containers.  Recognizing Riverside’s key needs, Lowenthal’s bill (SB 974) created a commission that would have overseen the funding with a seat specifically designated for the city of Riverside.  The bill passed but was unfortunately vetoed by the Governor.  He plans to reintroduce
it once a new Governor is elected.  But, why would he continue to help Riverside given the current attitude of its City Council towards his hometown?

Recently, Geraldine Knatz, director of the Port of Los Angeles, met with Riverside Council Members to try and gain Riverside’s cooperation by proposing that the city drop the lawsuit and the ports join hands in getting the Obama Administration to use its stimulus funds for city rail crossing projects.  Her bid was rejected out of hand.

For those of us who have worked hard and have successfully gained the cooperation of leaders throughout Southern California to support our efforts to gain funding for off-port projects in the Inland Empire, Riverside’s litigious behavior has become worse than an embarrassment.  It has undercut our ability to engage in fruitful discussions of the kind mentioned here.  This concern extends to the inland area’s regional agencies, the leaders of which are flabbergasted by this behavior.

If Riverside does not drop its ill-advised lawsuit, we fear that the consequence for blue collar workers in the economies of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, where we respectively live, will suffer.  Certainly, Riverside itself will not benefit.

Bob Wolf
Past Chairman, CA Transportation Commission, Former CA Undersecretary For Transportation

John Husing
Commissioner, CA Public Infrastructure Advisory Commission

UNKNOWINGLY PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST…  AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT!   THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM  BY THE WAY, COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED!

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC…

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: YOU PROVIDE THE FOOD AND THE COUCH, I’LL PROVIDE THE MILLIONS!

Posted: July 22, 2011 in Uncategorized
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The whole idea that you build me the restaurant, and I’ll tell you how at a cost, then I’ll provide the food and service, again at a cost. How did the city and taxpayer get into the restaurant business? Close friends and possibly a little favoritism?  Well let’s look at how this whole web of events play out. First, we start with Rodney Couch who is president of Preferred Hospitality Inc.   Now, under this umbrella falls The Market Broiler chain and Provider Foods Contract Servicing.  Under Provider Foods Contract Servicing,  falls City Hall’s Raincross Café , Stewart’s Boat House Lakeside Room Fairmont Park, Grier Pavillion City Hall, Orange Terrace Community Center Café , Orange Terrace Library Café, and other City Recreation venues.  The city has six contracts with Rodney, and the only one making money in the relationship between the City and Provider Foods/ Market Broiler is Rodney Couch!  If this isn’t favoritism, I don’t know what is!  The City of Riverside has spent BUCKETS of money on Provider at a total loss to the taxpayer.  Need a caterer, nope you can’t use them, you have to use Rodney.  They are, afterall the sole caterer to the City, or let me clarify in politically correct terms “preferred” caterer.  Provider is also involved with other projects such as The Atrium Café Riverside on Lemon St., The Atrium Café at Riverside County Administrative Center.  Conflict of Interest? Monopolization of the surrounding free market place and a breach of laissez-faire economics?  Not to mention, that the Raincross Cafe was built with taxpayer money. We also paid for the kitchen equipment, maintenance, utilities as electric and water, repairs etc. It’s a great deal.  No other vending machines are allowed in city hall except Rodney vending machines.  

Rodney is also paid for his services from the net sales of operations, so it doesn’t matter if they make a profit or not. Then you have those encentive bonuses, 20k for advertising etc., of which we have yet to see.  We know the city has control of the billboard off the freeway for advertising, but we are sure Provider would not have to pay for that advertising service as others would.  Did the Law Firm Cihigoyenetche, Grossberg & Clouse ask to see the receipts Provider/ Marketbroiler was suppose to utilize for advertisement and marketing services of City owned food service/ restaurant facilities?   Just like magic, as one of the partners Scott Grossberg performs on the side, they found no evidence that contracts were steered to friends of City Manager Brad Hudson.  That’s a shocker! You hire a law firm at taxpayer expense to represent you, and  voila, you get the answer you want!  That’s magic…  But it appears that magic has a price.  It appeared that the firm was very close to getting an answer on this favoritism debacle, when the City decided they needed to give the firm more money as to the tune of a measly $100,000.00, for a total payout of $150,000.00.   The firm’s final report, released this week, describes in detail several cases about which questions were raised, and of course the answers the City was looking for. 

But what continues to be agregious, I don’t know if people are seeing this, but you have a City Manager who thinks he can breach the lines of privacy and possibly violation of attorney client privilege information or even ECPA (the Electronic Communication Privacy Act) , and the law firm Brad hired is stating it is acceptable. Brad Hudson is not Assistant Deputy Attorney Raychele Sterlings superior.  City Attorney Greg Priamos is!  There is something wrong when the City Manager goes beyond his range of duty, and breaches an associates department.  The council or the mayor don’t appear to really understand this scenario. But I would expect more from Greg Priamos, a leader and superior of that department.  If this same scenario happened in the private sector, Brad Hudson would have been fired. City Hall has become a culture of enablers creating a dysfunctional introverted world. This scenario is wrong. But what we have is a culture of relationships, such as Greg Priamos and Brad Hudson seen on a Friday night, June 10, 2011, with two unidentified ladies at Duane’s Restaurant at the Mission Inn have dinner and conversing.  So do we have microcosm’s of undefined relationships breaching the laws the community has set forth?  Well, we must then ask ourselves, what would be Raychele Sterling’s modus operandi?  Sterling said city employees brought their concerns to her because they didn’t feel comfortable going to the Human Resources department, but she never stepped outside her role as a city attorney.  ”There would be no reason for me to make this stuff up,” she said. “I got fired for doing the right thing — where’s my incentive?”  That’s exactly right, why would an Assistant Deputy Attorney make this up?

 The law firm’s investigator found that Hudson had a legitimate reason to look at Sterling’s emails “based upon concerns that he had received in February 2011 from a public works employee about (Sterling) improperly interfering in public works business affairs.” The report also says Hudson cited a 2009 complaint about Sterling’s conduct. Sterling said she has never been questioned about or given details of any such concerns. Again, a complaint against Sterling’s conduct would have properly been addressed in a one on one meeting with follow-up documentation of the event, usually signed by both parties. This would be impossible for Brad Hudson to know this or conduct a meeting at this level.  He is not the superior, Greg Priamos is.  City Councilman Mike Gardner said Thursday he doesn’t see that any rules were broken, and the report lays out reasonable explanations for how the contracts in question were handled.  Again there is so many holes in this investigation, and it is shameful that taxpayer money was waisted on this event, and especially shameful that Councilman Mike Gardner does not see the breach of duty by the City Manager, as well as the City Attorney, and goes as far to support the rejection of a statement by an Assistant Deputy Attorney implying wrongdoing. 

And where’s City Attorney Greg Priamos in all of this?  He still behind the closed secure doors of his office, possibly making a phone call or two for another expensive consult with Best, Best & Krieger, and that’s OK! it’s not his money… There’s alot here, and a good part was initiated with the leadership of the City Manager.  The law firm’s report also said  that Couch and Hudson are not personal friends, Hudson had nothing to do with  signing the contracts with Provider, and because of the profit-sharing  agreement, “a legitimate reason existed to issue a marketing contract to  increase profits.”   All original contracts with Provider were signed by Ex-Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis as The City Manager, with what appears to be Brad Hudson’s initials next to his.  This is how the real City Manager Brad Hudson rolls.  Most other contracts are signed by any of the assistant manager or staff as “for Bradley Hudson, City Manager”.  He therefore can always deny signing, but he is  ultimately responsible as the person in charge of this office, and he knows what are in those contracts.  And of course, the City Council and the Mayor are ultimately responsible for all his actions.  TMC is investigating the total amounts of payouts Brad Hudson has allowed to go to Provider, then you the taxpayer, can make your own decision about favoritism, corruption or missuse of public funds.

Read the contracts between The City of Riverside and Provider Foods: Be patient, some of these take a little time loading: 

1. Raincross Cafe Contract 2006

2. Provider Food Services Purchase Orders

3. Advertising Services for Raincross Cafe, Grier Pavilion, Stewart’s Boathouse Fairmont Park, Orange Terrace Community Center Cafe.

4. Preferred Food Service Provider Agreement to Stewart’s Boathouse and Orange Terrace Community Center Cafe.

5. Design Consultant Services for Orange Terrace Library Cafe and Grier Pavilion

6. City Hall Grier Pavilion Reservation Guidelines

“People are looking for something that I don’t think exists,” Gardner said. “I think people are reading perfectly innocent things as something sinister.”   OK, I got it Mike, that’s must be like telling us your running for City Council, then running for Mayor…

UPDATE: 07/24/2011: In the midst of Assistant Deputy Attorney Raychele Sterling indicating retaliation by City Manager Brad Hudson.  Just this past week, Riverside Police Department Sgt. Val Graham sued the police department and City of Riverside alleging racial discrimination and retaliation including with its promotional process. Named in the lawsuit are City Manager Brad Hudson, Former Asst. City Manager Tom DeSantis and Chief Sergio Diaz. Last year, three out of four similar lawsuits based on retaliation were settled out of court, which may have included the case of Deputy Chief Pete Esquivel and Officer Neely Nakamura.  If a “strategic plan” was in order, as promised by Chief Sergio Diaz, would this have made a difference? Again there continues to be a pattern of employee related lawsuits.  Is this a continuation of a lack of leadership skills or qualifications?  Why does the taxpayer continue to have to pay out enormous settlements to employee related firings. But this is nothing new, Sterling filed three complaints in February and April 2011 alleging retaliation by Hudson and City Attorney Greg Priamos.  There is a problem when the Council and the Mayor are unable to control the henhouse.  Community of Riverside demanded accountability after Ex-Chief Russ Leach’s DUI incident.  But a pattern of police behavior appears to continue, with no answer on this issue from Chief Sergio Diaz, except the response of irritation.  I believe these two powerful positions, Chief of Police and City Manager should be elected postions. We have a city in denial and a pattern of behavior with a track record that have yet to be addressed.

UPDATE: 12/05/2012: NO PROFITS EVER FROM RAINCROSS CAFE SINCE 2006 OPENING.  OPERATING COST HAVE COST THE TAXPAYER IN EXCESS OF $300,000.00  THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE MAY BE LOOKING FOR A NEW OPERATOR FOR ITS TAXPAYER OWNED RESTAURANT, BUT HOW SMOOTH OF AN OPERATOR WAS RODNEY COUCH?

RIVERSIDE: DUCK TAPING A MOUTH HAS A PRICE: A CITY GONE ROGUE

Posted: May 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
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In my opinion it’s always been the nature of government to propose the proposition if there is no trail to an incident or event,  it didn’t occur.  In a free society we expect accountability and transparency, not some semantical play on words leading us further from the truth.  What is really disturbing is the fruition of a culture which has become unrepresentative of the needs of the community and has  become increasingly detached from mainstream economic theory, that its interference with the free market takes precedence.  What is best for the community is simply to do the right thing.   If that was done at all, we would not have so many employees fired at will.  But in retrospect, couldn’t this in essence,  be construed as a reflection of leadership?  And leadership can inadvertently distort the truth as a mechanism of defense.  Whereby an initial account of truth once disseminated, is followed by a transfiguration there of,  eventually becoming a subterfuge leading the community with a distorted perception of the truth.  For these reasons people are angry, people are frustrated, economically stressed and foremost, people are now asking questions.  Having questions is one thing, asking them is another.  People are feeling intimidated and afraid of government, and for good reason for which it has been quietly expressed in the community.  What has happened to our government, our protector and fervent leader?  What has propagated an entitled culture to developed independently of  the needs of surrounding community?  We have seen this within cities such as Bell.  People shouldn’t  have to feel that they are wrong  or be  intimidated by asking questions of public servants, or to feel they may be retaliated against.  Remember, elected and appointed officials are there to work at the pleasure of the people.

“Fear is the foundation of most Governments…”       

- John Adams, 2nd President of the United States of America,  January 1776

City Attorney Greg Priamos states he is there to protect the mayor and the council.  Is this an aberration of duty?  Or a momentary lapse of clarity?  …such as when an inquiry is initiated, and the assertion of attorney-client privilege is spawned.   Attorney-client privilege?…. lets analytically conceptualize the relationship.  In our tangible world it simply means the relationship between attorney and client, whereby the client hires the attorney for a fee.  Elected and appointed officials work at the pleasure of the people, taxpayers, and the community etc.,  therefore are we not their employers?  In essence, is the City Attorney present to protect the people and serve at the pleasure there of?  Therefore, would we not be his client?   An employee is still considered to be an employee, and we the people are technically their employer.  Such as the case of Best, Best & Krieger representing the Chief of Police via the tax payer,  we the employer/the CEO, do we not have the right to know what he may have done wrong and how it damages us as the employer?   Furthermore, is it the taxpayer/employer which must then hire a third party entity such as BB&K to actually tell us, again the taxpayer/employer, not the truth?  Led of course, by former Riverside DA Grover Trask, now with BB&K.  The City Manager, serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and the Council,  and therefore the responsibility of his actions reflects upon the mayor and council, it would be considered a breach of trust and of their fiduciary duty to the community  if they did otherwise.  It should also be assumed that the city council and mayor if necessary, could conduct themselves as city manager.  This would imply, a mastery of the appointed position, and this should be a requirement to becoming mayor or a member of the city council.  Understanding the work of the City manager is not only necessary but pertinent to the understanding the intricacies of the general fund.  Therefore there would be no justification to an aberrational abuse as seen with City Manager Robert Rizzo of the city of Bell.

Those that have been there longest have attained institutional memory, of which could be detrimental to a leaders agenda.  Ridding the work force of this intangible phenomenon insures the likelihood of implementing ones agenda without question, regardless if it is right or wrong.   Of course, those with institutional memory know right from wrong.  Is it a benefit to leadership to control and to rid their immediate arena of institutional memory?  And when expelled from the work arena,  does it have a corresponding price?  Duck taping a mouth always has a price within a city gone rogue. (Note: This Original Link Dissapeared From The Press Enterprise Site).  Without integrity there ultimately would be no need to question the actions of representative leadership.  Say what you don’t mean and mean what you don’t say.  Thank-you Sean Gill and Raychele Sterling for doing the rightful work of the people and with the integrity, and thank-you for asking the questions which help us, the taxpaying community,  to protect us from the abuse of public funds.  You have not been forgotten….