TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

At the tail end of the March 7, 2018, Riverside City Council meeting, Ward 2 Councilman Andy Melendrez requested an investigation into Mayor Bailey’s Office to determine if confidential materials related to the Mayor’s right to veto a contract of a City officer (i.e. the City Manager) were released to the public without Council authorization.

QUIET, UNASSUMING, NICE GUY ANDY ABOUT TO SINK THE KNIFE INTO MAYOR BAILEY?

Skip forward to this week and we learn that item has been mysteriously removed from the upcoming City Council agenda.  Was it delayed because of the conflict-of-interest with Riverside City Attorney Gary Geuss, as identified in fine detail as part of Mayor Bailey’s writ of mandate filed just over a week ago?  Was there a scheduling conflict on behalf of one of the key parties?  Or, like the free-riding Press Enterprise as of late, is the City of Riverside simply waiting for TMC to publish the results of its investigation saving taxpayers gobs of money (if you believe the latter, we have a library to sell you)?  Well, we won’t disappoint then (i.e. keep reading)!

 

                          

INVESTIGATION ON AGENDA                                                  REVISED AGENDA

But first let’s take a look at the Bailey writ, and the fact that our City Attorney obtained a legal opinion from outside, supposedly-independent counsel, Michael Colantuono, in order to justify quashing the Mayor’s veto.  The writ states that the Colantuono opinion is beneficial to the City Attorney because the Charter provides that the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney, “serve at the pleasure of the Council.”  And if Mayor Bailey can’t veto City Manager Russo’s contract, then you can bet he wouldn’t be able to veto City Attorney Geuss’ either.  And since Geuss chose the outside counsel himself, he might’ve just chosen someone he knew beforehand might be sympathetic to his cause.  And hence the conflict.

And why might Mr. Colantuono’s judgment regarding this particular issue be perceived as just a tad bit biased?  Well, maybe it’s the fact that he serves as a contracted City Attorney himself up in the Bay Area!

CLICK TO ENLARGE: THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY’S CLUB

In the alternative, Geuss could’ve just provided the City Council with a list of attorneys capable of handling this work and said, “I’m out.  Have at it boys.”  But, stealing a line from Jason Hunter, “the unofficial slogan of the City of Riverside is that there’s no conflict-of-interest that’s too big that we can’t ignore,” instead he inserted himself right into the middle of controversial decision in which he has a financial interest…and that we predict ladies and gentlemen is going to lead to trouble down the line…right here in the ole’ River City.

MAYOR RUSTY BAILEY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE

And whom exactly was Geuss going to pick as the investigator?  Well, well, well, if it wasn’t the Space Cowboy himself, Steve Miller, of Hanson Bridgett LLP, whom the City Council had previously flown down (like an eagle) from the Bay Area at the suggestion of Geuss to conduct an internal audit of the past practices for the payment of City legal expenses during the salad days of former City Attorney Greg Priamos.  If you remember correctly, The Joker was feathering the nests of his compatriots in the legal community to the tune of $19.4 million during his last 5 years in office, despite having a full-time staff of highly-paid attorneys in-house persecuting whistleblowers, providing bogus legal opinions, playing golf, ripping off ratepayers.  Hanson Bridgett grabbed $75,000 off the taxpayers for informing us, well, the record-keeping could’ve been better, and best practices weren’t always followed, but there’s nothing to see here folks!   How about “The data is admittedly messy.”  And “Abracadabra!” Priamos was free to infest the County as current County Counsel unbesmirched by his dirty deeds at the City.  Did we mention Steve Miller is also a contracted City Attorney up in the Bay Area.  Hoo-hoo-hoo, go on, take the money and run!

CLICK TO ENLARGE: THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY’S CLUB

Once again, TMC will save the day (and $10-$25K of the taxpayers’ moola) on this one: THE MAYOR DID IT…in the new Library…by throwing a Wrench into Team Russo’s plans.  And below, we provide for everyone to see: the Mayor leaked the Attorney/Client-protected outside legal opinion of Michael Colantuono to anyone he thought could lend a revolver, lead pipe, rope, knife, candlestick, hand.

 

                

BAILEY VIOLATES ATT/CLIENT PRIVILEGE (1)                BAILEY VIOLATES ATT/CLIENT PRIVILEGE (2)

Did Mayor Bailey misrepresent his ability to hire Rutan and Tucker on behalf of the City?  Probably.  All one needs to do is read between the lines of this Press Enterprise story from February 20, 2018:

The statement also rejects the idea that anyone but the city attorney “be permitted to obtain counsel at taxpayers’ expense.”

Before announcing his veto of Russo’s contract, Bailey received a letter from attorney Philip Kohn of Rutan & Tucker to back his opinion that — despite City Attorney Gary Geuss’ position — the charter allows the mayor to veto a contract with the city manager.

Kohn wrote to Bailey on Feb. 9 that he had been told the city charter doesn’t allow the mayor to hire legal counsel without the City Council’s consent. To avoid any conflict, Kohn wrote, he would not charge the city for any of the services he provided or provide any further legal advice on the matter.

UPDATE 3/26/18: RUTAN & TUCKER USED AS A SUCKER?  BELOW IS THE LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 9, 2018, SENT TO MAYOR BAILEY AFTER REALIZING THEIR FIRM WAS PUT IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION POSITION BY THE MAYOR.  Lawyer Philip Kohn states that his firm will not be providing any further legal opinions or assistance on the veto matter since the Riverside City Charter does not authorize the Mayor to hire outside legal counsel without approval or consent from City Council.  After realizing that their firm had a conflict-of-interest with the City itself, for whom they provide lucrative outside counsel work, they indicate the Mayor’s legal advice was at ‘no charge’…so as to not muddle up their taxpayer gravy train.

RUTAN TUCKER FEBRUARY 9TH LETTER TO MAYOR

Did Mayor Bailey consider allowing a proxy to file a lawsuit on his behalf while he sat in closed session, and based upon his record, leaked out more confidential information in order to benefit himself politically?  You betcha.  Just look in the “Rusty Files.”

And you know what, Andy Melendrez?  Nobody cares.  Nobody cares because – intentionally or not, William “Beetle Bailey,” through his entirely selfish (John Russo is a meanie…wahhh!!!), unethical actions is going to end up cleaning the Riverside Swamp of profiteer-bureaucrats/wannabe-politicians, and we’re just fine with that.  We’ll deal with Beetle later.

NOTHING BUT CLEAR SKIES FOR MAYOR “BEETLE BAILEY” AHEAD

And in an ironic twist not lost on Riverside corruption historians, a central figure in the Soubirous-Davis witchhunt of just 3-1/2 years ago accused of leaking information to the Press Enterprise at the time, will be outed soon as the, “man behind the scenes,” organizing his own kangaroo court on our dime…but that story about that Councilman (codenamed: M.S.) is for another day.  In the meantime, enjoy the Peoples’ Councilman, good guy-turned bad guy-turned good guy again, Ward 4 Councilman Chuck Conder…and the circle of life continues.

VIDEO FROM THE INLAND EMPIRE NEWSWIRE: RIVERSIDE COUNCILMAN CHUCK CONDER GIVES SOME INSIGHT INTO THE GOING ON’S AT CITY HALL.  

Councilman Chuck Conder says it stinks at City Hall! Outlandish city contracts and ridiculous utility rate hikes are ripping off the citizenry!! It’s time for people to “let their voice be heard,” he says in a passionate speech last Monday.  The city manager lavish new contract comes on the heels of a proposed average 3% hike in electricity and 4.5% hike in water that will begin July 1, 2018, and continue for 5 years, with 1/5 of the hike consisting of new taxes, to cover budget shortfalls for infrastructure projects we are sold told.  Add to that the city’s $600 million pension liability debt, and ever-increasing taxes to pay for it, and it begs the question: should the city manager be paid 25% more from the public purse and businesses and residents feel the pinch of a higher-cost-of-living and less government services?  These financial decisions have one councilman, Chuck Conder, concerned.

When Moreno Valley activist and local radio host Roy Bleckert asked Conder what can be done, Conder delivered a passionate speech stating, “You need to take back your government…They’re laughing at us… They’re saying ‘got away with this one…with that one.’ We as a people have got to get our voice back! If you can give up three minutes in front of the city council, great. If you can’t, send an e-comment, write. Let your voice be heard.”

BLAST FROM THE PAST: 02.23.2016: Local community activist Kevin Dawson skewers City Council regarding the failure to address outside legal counsel without contracts and the budget deficit! Ignored by Council, ignored by the City Attorney Greg Priamos and ignored by head of the Finance Committee Councilwoman and current Budget Engagement Commissioner (sigh) Nancy Hart…. Dawson was right all along!

DEDICATED TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE PARTNERSHIP COMPENSATION MODEL

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTY’S MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “POLITICALLY INCORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com