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CITY OF RIVERSIDE: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: THE CHRONOLOGY OF A PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEER.

Posted: October 5, 2012 in Uncategorized
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CHRONOLOGY OF HARRASSMENT AND RETALIATION EXPERIENCED BY CITY OF RIVERSIDE PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEER MARIA LAMPING 

  1.  On September 29, 2011, Maria Lamping sent an e-mail to Public Works Director, Tom Boyd, advising him that the environmental permit for the Santa Ana Sewer Project had been violated by the clearance of brush for a construction staging area in a protected habitat.  Mrs. Lamping was the project manager for the Santa Ana Sewer Project.
  2. On September 29, 2011, Maria Lamping notified the City’s consultant that the permit had been violated.  The consultant agreed with Mrs. Lamping’s assessment of the permit violation.
  3. On September 29, 2011, Maria Lamping was called into a conference room and verbally reprimanded by her supervisor  for sending  the e-mail to the consultant, and was told she could not speak with anyone on any project outside of the Public Works Department.   Her supervisor advised that the reprimand was directed by Tom Boyd.
  4. On October 12, 2011, Maria Lamping notified the construction project inspector for the Santa Ana Sewer Project that an environmental crew was deep in the brush of the Santa Ana River where a fire was burning.  The inspector refused to check on the crew, so Mrs. Lamping followed the City’s Incident Notice Procedures and contacted the fire department to advise them of the crew’s presence in the brush.  The crew was subsequently evacuated from the site by the fire department.
  5. On the evening of October 12, 2011, Mrs. Lamping drove by the project site to ensure that it was safe for the environmental crew to return the next day.
  6. On October 13, 2011, Mrs. Lamping was again reprimanded by her supervisor despite the fact that she was complying with the City’s Incident Notice Procedures.  This reprimand was again at the direction of Tom Boyd.  Thereafter, Mrs. Lamping was removed as project manager on the Santa Ana Sewer Project from then on.
  7. Mrs. Lamping had followed the same protocol in 2010 regarding a fire, and received recognition and thanks from the former Public Works director.
  8.  Sometime thereafter, Public Works Sr. Analyst, Jenna Combs, advised Mrs. Lamping that she was a “problem” for Tom Boyd and that he would probably try to get rid of her.
  9. On October 17, 2011, Mrs. Lamping exercises due diligence and contacts Ana Ewing of the California Department of Fish and Game to advise her of the permit violation on the Santa Ana Sewer Project.
  10. That same day, Mrs. Lamping is placed on administrative leave by Public Works Director Tom Boyd pending the results of a risk assessment he intends to have conducted on her.   Mr. Boyd also states that the City will investigate her claim of a hostile work environment.
  11. On October 21, 2011, Mrs. Lamping receives a letter from Human Resources advising that she must undergo a “fit for duty exam” at the office of Dr. Thomas Peterson on October 24, 2011 at 1:00p.m.  This is unprecedented, as fit for duty exams are reserved for police and fire personnel because of the nature of their jobs.
  12. On October 25, 2011, Mrs. Lamping files a Harassment/Discrimination Complaint with the City’s Human Resources Department due to continued harassment and retaliation, and the hostile work environment in her department.
  13. On October 28, 2011, Mrs. Lamping receives a letter from the City indicating that Dr. Peterson has found her “fit for duty” and cleared her for work.  Upon her return, Mrs. Lamping is stripped of all of her projects.
  14. Sometime thereafter, Mrs. Lamping receives a request from staff at the Sewer Treatment Plant to look into a hazardous spill that occurred at the Agricultural Park several years ago.  The caller advised Mrs. Lamping  that several City employees were exposed to the hazardous substances and were still experiencing medical problems.  One had already died from a rare form of stomach cancer.   However, all of their workers compensation claims had been denied.
  15. Mrs. Lamping undertakes the request of the fellow employee and discovers test results in the file for the Agricultural Park that indicate high levels of toxic substances that appear to have been intentionally withheld  from the exposed employees and the regulatory agencies involved in the clean- up.  Mrs. Lamping contacted the United States Environmental Protection Agency and was referred to Kris Wilson, EPA Criminal Investigator.  The EPA launched a criminal investigation that is currently ongoing.
  16. On December 14, 2011, Mrs. Lamping participated in an administrative interview with the City’s contracted employment attorney, Brenda Diedericks, to discuss Mrs. Lamping’s Discrimination/Harassment Claim filed with Human Resources.  Instead, Mrs. Lamping is subject to a 3 1/2 hour interrogation by the City’s attorney in an attempt to conduct a fishing expedition to create a reason to fire her.  Attorney Diedricks website indicates that she specializes in the removal of employees for employers.
  17. On March 14, 2012, Mrs. Lamping received a letter from Human Resources indicating that her claim of harassment and discrimination was unfounded.
  18. On April 14, 2012, Mrs. Lamping’s son, Private First Class Brian, a Combat Medic with the United States Army, is shot in the back by Enemy Taliban Forces while serving in Afghanistan.  Mrs. Lamping was not notified of her son’s condition until a month later.  While grieving for her injured son, Mrs. Lamping is forced to endure continued harassment and retaliation.
  19. On April 23, 2012, Mrs. Lamping son’s vehicle, which had military identification, is vandalized in the City’s gated parking structure.
  20. On May 11, 2012, Mrs. Lamping files a complaint of discrimination with the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission, which resulted in the issuance of a “right to sue” letter.
  21. On May 18, 2012, Mrs. Lamping files a Government Claim for harassment, discrimination and retaliation, and for vandalism of her son’s vehicle while parked in the City’s gated parking structure.
  22. On July 20, 2012, Mrs. Lamping received a Notice of Administrative Interview scheduled for July 24, 2012, from her supervisor.  Mrs. Lamping is given no explanation as to the reason for the interview and her attorney is denied her request for information.
  23. On July 24, 2012, Mrs. Lamping is subjected to yet another administrative interview by the City Attorney Office’s Private Investigator, Jeff Colopy.  Jeff Colopy, incidently, is a former Riverside Police Lt. retired.   At the interview, Mrs. Lamping is asked impermissible questions regarding her retention of her attorney.  Mrs. Lamping also learns that she is being investigated for utilizing a finance program that she is required to access for her projects and for training purposes.  The investigator contends that Mrs. Lamping printed a report from the finance program and gave it to a third party.  Mrs. Lamping denies that she gave the document to a third party.  It should be noted that the documents are public records and can be accessed by any member of the public during regular business hours.  The documents in question were allegedly accessed by Mrs. Lamping in December 2011.  It should be further noted that the City’s Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual requires that action be taken regarding an alleged incident of misconduct within 60 days.  Yet, Mrs. Lamping is subject to an interview nearly 7 months later.  The City later acknowledges that the incident was unfounded.
  24. On August 8, 2012, Mrs. Lamping received notice from the City’s of Riverside’s contract employment attorney, Brenda Diedericks, that she must attend another administrative interview on August 9, 2012, to discuss the vandalism to her son’s vehicle.  Again, Mrs. Lamping is subject to an interrogation of her actions in an attempt to create a reason to fire her.  She is asked very few questions regarding the vandalism to her son’s vehicle.
  25. On July 26, 2012, Mrs. Lamping was walked out of the building and once again placed on administrative leave by Public Works Director Tom Boyd without an explanation.  She requested that her union representative be contacted and that she be able to remove the only photos of her son in Afghanistan from her screen saver.  Both requests were denied.
  26. On September 20, 2012, Mrs. Lamping receives a Notice of Intent to Terminate from Deputy Public Works Director, Tina English, indicating that the City believed she lied about giving the public documents to a third party.  The City’s determination was based upon its unlawful disclosure of a confidential settlement brief in another matter of litigation.  Nonetheless, the documents provided in support of the notice contained absolutely no evidence that Mrs. Lamping had given a document to anyone.
  27. Prior to the onset of the harassment and discrimination, Mrs. Lamping was considered an exemplary employee for 9  years.  She had a flawless personnel record and received excellent performance evaluations.
  28. In September 2012, PFC  Brian was presented the Purple Heart by the United States Joint Chief of Staff.  He is also scheduled to receive a Medal of Valor for Courage Under Fire and a Mass Casualty Commendation for his service in Afghanistan.
  29. PFC Brian, a local hero, is due to come home in December 2012.  However, he will not be able to return to Riverside, as his mother’s home will have been lost due to her unlawful termination.

TOM BOYD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

Event former RPD Lt. Jeff Calopy, now Private Investigator gets into the act; and even Deputy Public Works Director Tina English, who recently was qualified for the position, is allegedly rumored to hold a dance degree.  Accordingly, Attorney Diedricks website indicates that she specializes in the removal of employees for employers.  “Ms. Diedericks has drafted numerous employment, separation and settlement agreements.”

                               

Former RPD Lt. Jeff Calopy, Now P.I.     Deputy Public Works Director, Tina English    Attorney Brenda L. Diedericks

US Army Medic PFC Brian was instrumental in saving US Army Second Lt. Jason Church after having both his legs blown off.  Read US Army Veteran Jason Church’s heart felt story on the La Cross Tribune.

US ARMY AIRBORNE RANGER, SECOND LT., JASON CHURCH

A surprise visit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, MD.  From left, Jason’s Dad, Col. David Church, graduated from West Point, served in Desert Storm and is still active in the Army Reserve; US Army Airborne Ranger Jason Church; President Obama;  Katey Szymanski, Jason’s girlfriend; and Barb Church, Jason’s mom.

Another story Riverside’s Press Enterprise won’t print…

THE US PURPLE HEART

UPDATE: 10/05/2012: DO NOT FORGET THE CODE OF ETHICS REVIEW AT TUESDAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING, 7:00PM,  OCTOBER 09, 2012.  A FULL COPY OF THE CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.RIVERSIDECA.GOV/CITY_CLERK

But was this really a “Bonehead Course”, as Dan Berstein coined.  After all you have City Attorney Greg Priamos giving the Council a two hour ethics training course.  Maybe there is an emphasis in “How not to get caught”.  At any rate it is quite a surprise to the community knowing Priamos’s track record.

UPDATE:10/07/2012: Upcoming..After voting in favor of a single ambulance company exclusively providing service to the City of Riverside, what Councilman is seen with the owner of that company?   

Teaching students at a Poly High Government Class involves a City of Riverside Council video which let’s female student know that if you are female and have an opinion, you must be “crazy”.

City Councilman Steve Adams brother, Ron Adams, a red light camera reviewer, is said to be wheeling and dealing the price of red light camera tickets according to one public speaker.

UPDATE: CITY COUNCIL MAYHEM ON OCTOBER 09/2012: MORE TO COME!  WE THEE EMPLOYERS, THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS CLASH WITH COUNCIL EMPLOYEE LEADERS..  THE STOCKHOLDERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON HOW THE COMPANY IS RUNNED!

City of Riverside’s City Manager Scott Barber’s Blog goes Blank?

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN…

         

RIVERSIDE’S CARNEGIE LIBRARY, CIRCA 1903-1964, NEW LIBRARY SHOWN BEHIND DEMOLITION.

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 ONE 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: IS MR. “WARMTH” ENOUGH, WHEN THERE’S A COST BY “MR. LIABILITY”?

Posted: September 17, 2012 in Uncategorized
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I came across this settlement case when looking into the Lanzillo Incident few weeks ago, and it was quite enlightening.  How many times has a settlement lawsuit occurred whereby a councilman such as Steve Adam’s has allegedly had a part in interfering with a process such as police promotions, in which of course, he should not be interefering with.  The question is, why would he feel a need to be part of the process to begin with?  At the last City Council meeting, former City of Riverside Deputy Attorney Raychele Sterling stated that City Attorney Greg Priamos expressed that Councilman Steve Adams was a “huge liability”.  It certainly appears that Councilman Steve Adams in the following law suit has costed the taxpayer not $1.00, not $500,000.00, but $750,000.00 and more in incidental court cost according to the law firm of Lackie, Dammeier & McGill.

POLICE ASSOCIATION LEADERS SETTLE RETALIATION LAWSUIT

By: Russell Perry & Michael McGill

On the eve of trial, the City of Riverside settled a contentious lawsuit brought by two of its lieutenants–Darryl Hurt and Tim Bacon–brought against the City, its now retired Chief of Police, a City Manager, an Assistant City Manager, and two City Council members.  The lawsuit alleged retaliation based on the lieutenants’ political activities on behalf of the Riverside Police Administrators Association [“RPAA”], the union for police management employees.

In 2006, Lieutenant Hurt became President of the RPAA and was vocal about the City violating numerous provisions of the union contract, including the City’s surreptitious attempt to convert various positions to “at will” status.  Hurt was responsible for coordinating litigation against the City challenging its actions and spoke out in opposition at various City Council meetings.  Of course, Lieutenant Hurt did not stand alone in his opposition to the various issues that confronted the RPAA.  In 2006, Lieutenant Tim Bacon was a vocal and active member of the RPAA.  He gathered a wide range of community support at City Council meetings to oppose the implementation of the “at will” employment contracts.  Furthermore, Lieutenant Bacon was Chairman of the Political Action Committee [“PAC”] for the RPAA and endorsed a candidate for City Council that eventually lost an election against a current City Councilman.

In addition to their union activities, Lieutenants Hurt and Bacon also reported what they believed to be unlawful activities of Police Chief Russ Leach, City Manager Brad Hudson, and Assistant City Manager Tom Desantis to the California Attorney General related to the issuance of concealed weapons to the city managers, as well as unauthorized cold platting of city vehicles.  Lieutenants Hurt and Bacon believed that their outspoken criticism of City Hall, City Council, and the reporting of the alleged illegal activity angered the city managers and city councilman. Unfortunately, these protected activities ended up coming back to haunt Lieutenant Hurt and Bacon when they later tested for Captain.

In November 2007, both lieutenants participated in the promotional process for Captain. Naturally, their combined extensive training and fifty six plus years of collective law enforcement experience led to a high ranking following the oral interview. Despite their excellent qualifications as senior lieutenants, they were passed up for promotion allegedly based on their political activities.

During the discovery phase, numerous depositions were taken and provided startling insight into the manner in which promotions occur within the City of Riverside.  A former Deputy Chief testified that Chief Russ Leach was told by City Manager Brad Hudson and Assistant City Manager Tom Desantis that Lieutenants Hurt and Bacon would never be considered for promotion because of their union activities. In fact, the candidate that was ultimately selected for promotion over Hurt and Bacon by Chief Leach was specifically approved by the city managers after an unusual vetting process.

Before the official announcement of the captain promotion was released, Councilman Steve Adams met with the promotional candidate at a restaurant, intentionally selected outside the city limits to avoid the appearance of impropriety [presumably due to the timing of the gathering]. This meeting was allegedly needed to resolved personal differences between Councilman Steve Adams and the candidate. Amazingly the only apparent issue that has to be resolved is whether or not the candidate actually campaigned against Steve Adams during a prior election—like Hurt and Bacon did.  Once Steve Adams accepted the candidate’s plea that he did not campaign against him, all the personal differences were resolved. City Councilman Adams told City Manager Hudson the next day that the meeting went well and coincidentally, the official announcement of the promotion of that candidate followed shortly thereafter. By the terms of the City Charter, members of the City Council are not supposed to be involved in the promotional process.

After they were passed over for promotion, Lieutenants Hurt and Bacon notified the Chief of Police of their intent to file a lawsuit. This act had immediate consequences as they were both suddenly transferred to an undesirable assignment for seasoned lieutenants, specifically the watch commander position.

The City’s assertion that the Lieutenants Hurt and Bacon were not promoted because they never made it to the top three choices for captain was going to be exposed as a sham at trial. They had compelling evidence that they were not going to be promoted because they previously engaged in protected activities. The circumstances surrounding the promotion of the other lieutenant only after the secret meeting outside the city limits, the testimony of Deputy Chief that both candidates were not going to be considered for promotion to captain, and the total lack of credibility of the former Chief of Police were going to show otherwise.

A few weeks before the case was set to go to trial in April 2010, the City came to its senses and met the plaintiffs’ settlement demand.  The terms of the settlement were released to the public by the City Attorney’s Office and include the following: In exchange for dismissal of both lawsuits against all defendants, Lieutenants Hurt and Bacon agreed to be placed on administrative leave until they were eligible for retirement [July 2010 for Lieutenant Bacon and January 2011 for Lieutenant Hurt]. Both lieutenants will receive back pay at the captain rate from the date they were passed up for promotion in January 2008 until their retirement. The City will ensure that both lieutenants will receive top step captain pay for the twelve months prior to retirement. Furthermore, the City agreed to purchase additional PERS service time so that both lieutenants could retire at the maximum, thirty years of service. Finally, Lieutenant Bacon will receive payment of $300,000 and Lieutenant Bacon will receive payment of $250,000.  The City further agreed to pay the Lieutenants’ legal fees and costs.  In total, the Lieutenants will receive a combined cash settlement totaling approximately $750,000, not to mention retirement at top step captain—positions they would have had absent the retaliation by the Defendants.  We did not even consider the cost the City spent to defend this case, which I’m sure goes well into the six digit range.

Mr. Warmth he is not, Mr. Sensitivity he is not, so why should we even give him the benefit of doubt when it comes to leadership?  When in essence his leadership is not for the benefit of his constituents.  What about the damage to City vehicles and cold plates?  What about the story of Lt. Meredyth Meredith and the alleged interference with her promotional process to Captain?  According to a deposition of former Chief of Police Russell Leach, he was preparing to promote then Lt. Meredith to captain when former Assistant Manager Tom DeSantis called him and put a stop to it.  Leach then stated, “And I found out Steve Adams marched into the meeting with…Hudson and Desantis and told them emphatically she shouldn’t be promoted.”  So what would be the reasoning behind Adams not wanting Lt. Meredith to be promoted?  Why would it matter at all what he says to begin with, wouldn’t he be violating Section 407 of City Charter, Intereference in Administrative Service, by that behavior?  So the big question we at TMC are asking, are certain people in leadership positions within the City of Riverside setting the taxpayer up for more costly liability?  We know “Mr. Liability” is..

UPDATE: 09/17/2012: EXCESSIVE WATER RATES?  WE TOLD YOU SO….ARE THEIR PROPOSITION 218 AN PROPOSITION 26 VIOLATIONS NOT BEING ADDRESSED?  A NEW REPORT IN THE PRESS ENTERPRISE ON THE HIGH COST OF WATER DUE TO THE TIERED SCAM…WE’RE SAYING IT BUT THEY ARE NOT.  OTHER TMC LINKS ON WATER: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: EXCESSIVE WATER TAXATION? AND CITY OF RIVERSIDE: UNDERWATER AND SHOCKED BY HIDDEN UTILITY TAXES? AND OF COURSE: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: THREE TIERS FOR WATER! I’LL DRINK TO….SECOND THOUGHT CAN’T AFFORD TO…   AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ELECTRICITY RATES: HIDDEN TAXES ON YOUR ELECTRIC UTILITY RATE$!

UPDATE: 09/18/2012: CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY! The redistricting issue was debated and voted at Tuesday’s City Council Meeting on September 24, 2012.  The map that was accepted was as follows:

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Councilman Chris Mac Arthur’s legislative aid Charles Condor who was canvassing the his neighborhood for signatures to remain within his Ward 4, appeared to get his request.  The “deciders” cut “Chuckie Land” right down the middle, with Chuckie’s home address remaining in Councilman’s Paul Davis Ward 4, and the other half going to Councilman’s Andy Melendrez’s Ward 2.  Others rumored that Condor wanted to remain in Ward 4 in order to run against Davis next election cycle.  Now Condor has been quoted as saying he has no intention to run Ward 4 Council in the next election.  Chuckie Land in the first image should be all pink because it is actually in Councilman’s Paul Davis’s Ward 4.  It’s green in the photo because one of the redistricting map choices was that it would be redistricted to Councilman Andy Melendrez’s Ward 2, hence the second image which was accepted by council.

                                 

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Now the “Chamber Queen”, Cindy Roth, with all the controversy, did not get that piece of Ward 2, the Market Place of which TMC coined “Cindy Land”, to be moved to Councilman’s Mike Gardner’s Ward 1.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Again, I must emphasize, that redistricting is not about ’business’ it’s about ‘population’.  If there is any inference of ‘gerrymandering’ that will be left for the state to investigate.  Redistricting, again, is based on a strict criteria, formulated to prevent political favoritism and gerrymandering.

Another change, was that Ward 1 was moved from Blaine to the Streets of Linden and University within the Andy Melendrez’s Ward 2.  Proponents, such as Christina Duran were not happy with that change.  Though, we must remember, what appeared to be of greater concern to the community of Ward 2 was the Market Place, which was of course, retained within Councilman’s Andy Melendrez’s Ward 2.  Regardless, public speaker Christina Duran made it known to Council that she would file a letter of objection to this change.  A letter of objection allows the decision in question to legally be brought up at a later time if deemed necessary due to inconsistencies, otherwise the decision could be considered final.

Again the act of redistricting is based on a set criteria which independently produces several redistricting map choices for council to vote on.  Changing those boundaries for the benefit of a few, known as gerrymandering, would be violating this set criteria, therefore would be left for investigation by the state.  The points made above were many of the ones which were seemed to be brought to the forefront of importance, otherwise movement and slight district changes overall were left unchallenged.

UPDATE: 09/20/2012: GANGNAM STYLE MEETS “RIVER CITY STYLE”? OR EVEN “THE LOVERIDGE STYLE” AS COINED BY ALICIA ROBINSON OF THE PE?  WOULD THIS HELP OUR SISTER CITY?  CAN IT HELP RIVERSIDE WITH NOTORIETY?  NEW POSTING ON THE PE BY ALICIA ROBINSON..

    

UPDATE: 09/26/2012: QUESTIONS ARISE ON THE FATALITY OF ISABEL PABLO STRUCK BY AN RPD VEHICLE.  Police Officer Boulerice’s initial statement was that he was looking at his computer before the collision.. but Greg Matthews, (paid by the City of Riverside to assess the actual circumstances of the fatality, in favor of the city, I would imagine), said the short amount of time Boulerice needed to stop indicated that he was not distracted… Well alrighty, I heard that one by the common people, or should I say the taxypayer.

    

Matthews said Pablo was not visible to Boulerice long enough for him to stop in time, even if he had not been driving 5 mph over the posted 35 mph speed limit.  We all know the dangers of going 40 mph and taking a second or two not looking at the road.  It only takes a second of distraction.  We’ve been told this time and time again, but now, is there a double standard now involved?

Trained police officers can text, use their cell, utilize their computer and the City can effectively argue that the officer was not distracted?  I know a thousand local taxpaying civilians that would like to hire that guy..  BUMP, Oppps, O’my god…what did I do??  Laws? What laws? What are they there for?  According to RPD, there Press Release suggest that Isabel Pablo was jaywalking.. by walking outside the crosswalk.  She was even given a toxicology test, the results have yet to be reported by the Chief.  In one instance to mitigate going over the speed limit, Chief Diaz states that Boulerice would not have been able to stop even if he were driving the posted 35 mph, police said at the meeting.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Accordingly the following image from the PE shows where Pablo was when she was hit (red tear drop).  Also in the image are the lines of visual compromise to the police officer driving (red lines) which made it difficult to see Pablo.  Also notice that where Pablo was hit (second image), was the area or distance between one vehicle lane.  It is also important to notice the layout of the blocks in relation to the streets.

         

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

The next series of images begins with image 1, approximately one block away from where Pablo was hit.  Image 2, is approximately at half the distance, with noticeable pedestrian crossing clearly painted on the street.  Image 3, is approxiamately a quarter of the distance.  In all images you can judge for yourself it their was any visual impairment.  Also consider the speed of the vehicle in excess of the speed limit, and driving while on the vehicle lap top.  The police officer also mentions a vehicle parked to the right curb also causing visual impairment (Image four).  Click images to enlarge.  According to the PE a southbound motorist who saw Pablo on the curb, nodded to Pablo that she could cross, but then honked his horn when he saw the police car approach at a speed that indicated Boulerice did not see Pablo.  I’m assuming that what he meant by honking the horn was that he was traveling in a speed in excess of what appeared to normal.  You the citizen be the judge..

        

IMAGE ONE                            IMAGE TWO                         IMAGE THREE                       IMAGE FOUR

Three other views beginning approximately one quarter of the way to impact.  Keep in mind the view especially in image three.  Also consider as indicated by the PE, the landscaping, medians and planters were installed in a $1.1 million project in 1999 that was designed to slow vehicle traffic and make Madison more pedestrian friendly.  Image four is of Image Two with a parked truck.

        

IMAGE ONE                            IMAGE TWO                       IMAGE THREE                        IMAGE FOUR

Could speed and distraction been a factor?

To make his point, Chief Sergio Diaz said there have been 23 fatal vehicle vs. pedestrian collisions in Riverside since 2007. In 15 cases, the pedestrian was at fault; in five cases, the driver was at fault but was not charged; in three cases, the driver was at fault — two charged with felony DUI and one charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.  I’m not sure what Chief Sergio’s Diaz’s point was, but maybe it was to mitigate the collision somehow, but regardless, violations occurred.  If you wanted transperancy, one would want to look at the video dash cam for the purpose of seeing the police officer’s view from the police vehicle.  Chief Diaz doesn’t see it that way, he stated at a community meeting that he would attempt to prevent the police car’s dashboard video from going public, that he had no interest in satisfying anyone’s “macabre curiosity.”  “Macabre Curiosity”?  First Riversidian’s who asked questions regarding police procedures, were labeled as those who are “eating cheetos in their underwear”.  Now the question arises again, whereby the community would like to view all the evidence, especially the dash video.  Those who would like to see the dash video are now labeled as deviant, with a “macabre curiosity”.  Again many in the community are questioning the decisions and remarks of the Chief, especially now that he appears to be interfering with public records and how he skews issues of importance.

TMC INVESTIGATES WITH THEIR OWN VERSION AS SEEN ABOVE, WITH NO COST TO THE TAXPAYER.  WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY WORKING WITH POLICE HAND IN HAND, WE CANNOT HAVE A SAFE COMMUNITY.  TRUST NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK, EVEN IF IT MEANS A NEW CHIEF.   WHAT! ANOTHER CHANGE ORDER FOR THE FOX PERFORMANCE PLAZA FOR $2.5 MILLION.  BUT GET THIS! STAFF ALREADY SPENT IT WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.  OF COURSE THIS HAS CITY MANAGER SCOTT BARBER’S NAME ALL OVER THIS.  AT ONE POINT DURING COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS, COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS ASKED IF THE MONEY HAD ALREADY BEEN SPENT AND THE CONSTRUCTION ALREADY DONE?  CITY MANAGER SCOTT BARBER ANSWERED “YES’… THIS WAS ITEM #15 ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR TUESDAY 09.25.2012.  TAXPAYERS ARE ASKING WHO’S IN CHARGE?  BUT DID COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS, CITY MANAGER SCOTT BARBER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY GREG PRIAMOS ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THIS BEFORE HAND?  THE REASON WE ASK THIS AS WELL AS OTHER IN THE COMMUNITY IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS WITH CITY MANAGER SCOTT BARBER AT SUCH LOCAL HANGOUTS AS MAZZ.  ALSO SEEN WITH ADAMS IS CITY ATTORNEY GREG PRIAMOS.  THREE PEAS IN A POD?  WAS THIS WHOLE EVENT POSSIBLY EVEN ORCHESTRATED?  WHAT ARE THE LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS BEHIND THIS DECISION?  KNOWING THE RULES OF CONDUCT, WHY WOULD CITY MANAGER SCOTT BARBER VIOLATE THEM?

                   

    SCOTT BARBER                        STEVE ADAMS                    GREG PRIAMOS

    

SHOULD THE CHIEF OF POLICE, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER POSITIONS BE ELECTED POSITIONS?  WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS..  AND YOU KNOW BY NOW HOW MUCH TMC LOVE’S THE DIRT, EMAIL YOU DIRT!  NOT LITERALLY… INCIDENTALLY, IF YOU HAVE EXTRA DIRT..MAIL IT TO CITY HALL!   CITY HALL NEEDS YOUR DIRT IN ORDER TO COMPLETE TEQUESQUITE PARK..AT THE RATE OF 1,800 TRUCKLOADS…  THIS WITH A COST OF $200,000.00 TO THE TAXPAYER.  $200K DIVIDED BY OUR POPULATION OF 300,000.00 COMES OUT TO $0.666 PER RESIDENT.  WE  WILL LET YOU KNOW OF ANOTHER INCIDENT WHERE THE 666 NUMBER COMES UP REGARDING EL TEQUESQUITE PARK, OF COURSE, RESERVED ONLY FOR THOSE 666 ENTHUSIAST..

Self Appointed Citizen Auditor Vivian Moreno question the documentation for Tequesquite Park which states that the six fire stations are equal to the $4 million.  “That can’t possibly be right, these six stations have to be worth over $50 million”!  ”If you divide $4 million by the 6 fire stations you get $666,666.66.  Your telling me that a fire station is only worth $666,666.66″?

UPDATE: 10/01/2012: ITEM # 19 ON CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR 10/02/2012: GINA AIREY CONSULTING TO BE CONTRACTED FOR “SEIZING OUR DESTINTY TWO”? AT A COST TO THE TAXPAYER OF $210,365.00?   Yes Folks, there is a Method in the Magic in order to initiatate Seizing Our Destiny Two..

    

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Methods & Magic: How to  Jumpstart a Focused Plan that Delivers Results… and Saves You Time! –This is a  day-long workshop to prepare for self-directed strategic planning, designed for  volunteers and smaller organizations. “Methods and Magic” is also available as a  workbook for all those City Council who need a helping hand with vision.

CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL DOCUMENT

The last time we had anything with the term “Magic”, was when Former City Manager Brad Hudson requested an outside investigation to the allegations of favoritism of himself, so he hired Rancho Cucamonga-based law firm Cihigoyenetche Grossberg Clouse  at a cost to the taxpayer of $150,000.00 to do the investigation which ultimately took a month.  Of course, in this investigative process they forgot to interview the other party which originally made the claims of impropriaties.  This is the same in Councilman Paul Davis’s case, whereby former RPD Lt. Jeff Callopy also forgot to take a statement, from non other than, Councilman Paul Davis, and was still able to determine wrong doing by the councilman.  Well, go figure.  But it gets stranger, one of the partners of the law firm Brad Hudson retained to investigate the email claims, specifically, Scott J Grossberg Esq.,  is also a motivational speaker who specializes in magic,  and is the author of three critically acclaimed and bestselling books, “The Vitruvian Square: A Handbook of Divination Discoveries,” “The Masks of Tarot,” and “Bauta: Betraying the Face of Illusion,” in addition to his oracle/divination cards, “The Deck of Shadows.”

This partner specializes in magic, thought-reading, and divination (Tarot, oracle cards, palmistry, astrology, and numerology).  I guess my question to the City of Riverside is, why do continue to focus on “magic” for the answers to the City of Riverside’s future?  What is their obsession with “magic”?  In their eyes, would “magic” be what is necessary to take the City that one step beyond?

UPDATE: 10/02/2012: CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO CONTINUE REDLIGHT CAMERAS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PUBLIC AT LARGE HAD TO SAY…AND WHAT THEY SAID WAS TAKE THEM OUT!  THE VOTE:  ADAMS-YEA, HART-YEA, GARDNER-YEA, DAVIS-NAY, MAC ARTHUR-NAY, MELENDREZ-NAY, MAYOR PRO TEMP AND MAYORAL CANDIDATE, AKA “INDEPENDENT VOICE”  MADE THE DECIDING VOTE WITH AND ASTOUNDING YEA..  WHAT DOES AUSTRALIAN BASE REDLFLEX HAVE ON THESE INDIVIDUAL WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT?

I heard 18 people speak against the cameras tonight and two in favor of keeping them. All agreed the fines are unreasonable, even Steve Adams. Outwardly he says he supports community opinion and supported alternative methods to improve traffic safety. An excess of 11,000 tickets at Arlington and Indiana shouts loud and clear that public works is not doing an effective job of improving traffic safety here. Warren Buffet recently invested in red light cameras as reported by some council members (Mac Arther and Davis).   – Mark Porter, Commenter on the PE

The proverbial saying: put your money where your mouth is, comes to mind. If the city’s position is that the red light cameras result in safer intersections then where are the substantiating facts? if a case cannot be made that the red light cameras are producing a safer traffic environment (presumably the reason for their existence, according to the city) then we must ask: Why are they there?  -dontsurfsaltcreekmiddles, Commenter on the PE

UPDATE: 10/04/2012: CITY COUNCIL WEEK SEPTEMBER 26, 2012.  CITY MANAGER’S SCOTT BARBERS EXPLANATION TO THE  SPENDING OF $2.5 MILLION WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL.

First of all let me say that, if we didn’t proceed with the MOU, (Memorandum Of Understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties),  this change order would be another $500,000.00 or $600,000.00 on top of what you are seeing right now cause that would have been the cost to rebuild the building that had no purpose or no use, (The Press Bindery).  Which seems to me to be would be a waste of money.  So I appreciate  and recognize that we would be writing a wrong, and we are going to do something really good with the money.

Second of all, there was some management decisions made during the course of construction, that should have been discussed with the council.  I fully understand and appreciate the depth and weight of those decisions that were made.  And you have my guarantee as your city manager …uggh, that we have a big convention center construction under way….  You have staff’s commitment that we will bring to you items as they come up, because when their’s construction, there are unforeseen things that happen, it just always happens with construction..   and there were some additional cost that were management decisions, and….that’s not the kind of thing that is going to happen again…  So, I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this,  and you have my guarantee as your city manager that we will not be making management decisions to make changes on projects without discussing them with you…

City Councilman Paul Davis: Final question, has this work already been done?  And it’s kind of asking permission after the fact?

Barber: Most of the work been completed…(therefore the $2.5 million has been spent without City Council approval)..

Upcoming, another alleged hired retaliatory investigative hit job by former RPD Lt. Jeff Callopy against a Public Works employee?

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN….MAIN STREET, CIRCA 1900

JUST FOR LAUGHS….EL TEQUESQUITE PARK: MIDNIGHT DIRT REMOVAL:  WE JUST RAN OVER THAT PURPLE PIPE, WAS THAT ANYTHING IMPORTANT?

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 ONE 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: PUBLIC WORKS: THE CHECK’S IN THE DESK..

Posted: September 7, 2012 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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The Greenpoint Avenue and Lake Street Sidewalk Construction was a Federal HUD (Housing and Urban Development) Funded Project or known as a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Project.  If these funds are not spent before a certain amount of time, they must be given back to the Federal Government.  Checks were allegedly cut before the expiration date of funds, held in someones desk, then issued to the contractor or vendor at a later time.  To do otherwise would be considered illegal.  Any business person who receives a check, especially for the amount of close to a half a million dollars, does not wait 30 days to cash it.  In this case, the check issued to Grand Pacific Contractor’s did.  The contractor usually has employees to pay and vendors to pay.  At the time Tom Boyd was Assistant Public Works Director.  Was it possible he did not want to do the work?  Did Siobhan Foster know of these discrepancies in the Public Works Department and the details of the CDBG funds?  And did she leave the City of Riverside to the City of Pasadena for this reason?  How about Former Assistant City Manager Michael Beck, Public Works Director Tom Boyd, Former City Manager Brad Hudson or even City Attorney Gregory Priamos?  The question, is this an act of falsification of records?

01/05/2007 – IN AN INTEROFFICE MEMO DIRECTED TOWARD PURCHASING MANAGER ART TORRES REQUESTING TO PLEASE ADVERTISE ONLINE FOR BIDS ON THIS PROJECT JANUARY 8, 2007 FOR THE BID SUMISSION DATE OF FEBRUARY 7, 2007.  BUT A PURCHASE ORDER & REQUISITION WERE ORDERED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE FOR VENDOR: GRAND PACIFIC CONTRACTORS INC. JANUARY 5, 2007 ACCORDING TO DOCUMENT.

                           

CLICK DOCUMENT IMAGE TO VIEW

01/08/2007 – THE BIDING INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT IS RELEASED TO BE ADVERTISED ON LINE THIS DAY.  BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR CONSIDERATION FEBRUARY 7, 2007.

01/19/2007 – THIS IS GRAND PACIFIC CONTRACTORS BID, THOUGH DATED JANUARY 19, 2007.  IN ADDITION THERE IS NO RECEIVED DATE STAMP BY THE CITY ON THIS DOCUMENT TO SHOW ACTUAL DATE, IF ANY.

CLICK TO VIEW COMPLETE DOCUMENT

02/07/2007 – ACTUAL DATE BID OPENS AND CAN BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION.  THIS DOCUMENT SHOW A COVER SHEET WITH CITY COUNCIL AWARD DATE OF FEBRUARY 20, 2007 AND A CONTRACT SIGN DATE OF MARCH 13, 2007 BUT THE DATE ON THE COVER SHEET IS FEBRUARY 7, 2007.  WAS THIS BACKDATED?

CLICK DOCUMENT IMAGE TO VIEW

02/20/2007 – CITY COUNCIL AWARDS BID TO GRAND PACIFIC CONTRACTORS

03/12/2007 – A LETTER EMAILED BY FORMER PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTOR SEAN GILL, DESCRIBES THAT THE PROJECT HAS THIRTY (30) WORKING DAYS AND COMMENCE MARCH 12, 2007, THEREFORE PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN AND AROUND APRIL 12, 2007.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW DOCUMENT

03/13/2007 – GRAND PACIFIC CONTRACTORS AGREEMENT SIGNED

03/30/2007 – PURCHASE ORDER  BY ART TORRES, IN THE PROCESSING OF ACTIVITY SECTION, IT SHOWS A REQUESTED DATE AND ENTRY DATE OF 01/05/2007, PRIOR TO THE JANUARY 8, 2007 BID RELEASING DATE.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW DOCUMENT

04/13/2007 – CHECK ISSUED TO GRAND PACIFIC CONTRACTORS IN THE AMOUNT OF $485,545.50 BUT CASHED 5/17/2012, ALMOST 30 DAYS LATER.  THE AGREEMENT STATES THAT “MONTHLY PROGRESS PAYMENTS SHALL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 9-3.2 OF THE STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS”.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW DOCUMENT

05/17/2007 – AFTER OVER THIRTY DAYS CHECK IS CASHED

06/05/2007 – ACTUAL WORK COMPLETION DATE, APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS POST AGREEMENT. CITY MUST NOW RECEIVE A NOTICE OF COMPLETION FROM CONTRACTOR WITHIN 35 DAYS.

07/13/2007 – NOTICE OF COMPLETION (NO INITIATION DATE INDICATED ON DOCUMENT-ASSUME 30DAYS BEFORE COMPLETION DATE)

08/17/2007 – REQUEST FOR FINAL PAYMENT

08/21/2007 – FINAL PAYMENT ISSUED FOR $53,945.50  FROM FUND 230 SPECIAL GAS TAX FUND.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW DOCUMENT

Inconsistencies arrise when viewing document four.  Document states that the City Council Awarded the bid to Grand Pacific Contractors 02/20/2007 and that the contract was signed 03/13/2007.  Yet the document date is 02/07/2007 at 2:00pm.  Was the document manipulated or imputed at that date with predetermined information?

              

DOCUMENT ONE        DOCUMENT TWO       DOCUMENT THREE     DOCUMENT FOUR          DOCUMENT FIVE

DOCUMENT SIX

The initial processing activity was that it was requested by Philip Hannawi 01/05/2007 and entered 01/05/2007.  What is also noticeable is that Grand Pacific Contractors has a vendor number assigned as of this same date.  The cost was approved 03/20/2007 and the last printing was 03/20/2007.  The terms of the vendor is Net 30 days.  What’s compelling is that the acceptance of this bid by the city 01/05/2007, is in contradiction to the initial and formal bid advertisement date of 01/08/2007 and bid opening date of 02/07/2007.

“Thirty-five (35) days after City accepts the Work and files a Notice of Completion, City shall pay Contractor the amounts City deducted and retained from its progress payments, except such sums thereof which are required by law or authorized by the Contract to be further retained”.   Progress payments are incremental payments made to the contractor at each level of completion.  For example, the contractor can say after a week this portion of the project will be completed.  Then an incremental payment will be made to the contractor to pay employees and their vendors etc.  What occurred was that the vendor was paid 90% ($485,545.50) in one lump sum prior to the job initiation, with the remaining 10% ($53,945.50) at job completion as indicated by vendor.  The records attained were the result of a public records act request.  Agreement also states that “Monthly progress payments shall be made in accordance with Section 9-3.2 of the Standard Specifications”.

The following are current pictures of the job evidently done for sidewalks and curbs.  The constituents of the City of Riverside hope that our new Public Works Director Thomas Boyd can shed some light on the above discrepencies.  Since Former Public Works Director Siobhan Foster skipped town to become Public Works Director of the City of Pasadena, under City Manager Michael Beck (Former Assistant City Manager of the City of Riverside).

                                            

UPDATE: 09/11/2012: CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY:  SHE’S BACK!  Public Speaker Karen Wright and Coordinator of the Janet Goeske Center Friday Morning Club is back!  And City Council wasted no time embracing this welcome with two of Riverside’s finest, also known as ‘Ronny’s Bouncers.’  After Council Meeting was adjourned, Ms. Wright gave the Council and Mayor a lesson in government transparency.  Not to be undone, Ronny’s Bouncer’s were sent to the Mayor and Council’s rescue to cease this act of afterhours public speaking..

         

To this day, Chief Sergio Diaz has not apologize to Ms. Wright after accosting her on the city council floor on her public speaking position on Tequesquite Park.  What gives with the Chief?  Does he continue to think that Riversidian’s remain in their homes in their underwear eating cheetos?  Yes, of course, I admit this is what we all do in Riverside, but what about the apology?  I mean that Councilman Paul Davis made a public apology a couple of weeks ago to a fire inspector, and that didn’t appear to be at all that painful..

      

The hot item of the night was Item #9 a resolution to adopt Temporary Economic Development Rates (TED), or in other words, let’s give discounted electric rates to new start up businesses over the next three years that we choose.  This would work as a sliding scale decrease beginning with a 30% discount ending in 12/13, decreasing to 20% ending in 12/14, decreasing to 10% ending in 12/15, and decreasing to 0% discount thereafter.  The whole idea is to attract new businesses to Riverside, since many now our moving to states such as Arizona and Nevada.  The contradiction of this plan is that the residents of the City of Riverside own their own electric utilities, unlike other municipalities. If you own a home in Riverside, you own a part of the electric utility company, why should we pay more?  Therefore, shouldn’t the discount be spread across the board to residents and small business owners in order to stimulate more economic growth?    If the discount was spread across the board to all, there would be more money available for businesses to reinvest in their companies and hire more people, for residents there would be more money left in their budget to spend in town at small businesses etc., it would therefore be a win, win situation.  Many are asking, “How does this resolution pan out to the electric contract engaged with the Press Enterprise?”  Yes, what you read can possibly and certainly make a difference.  Even Riverside’s Chamber President, Cindy Roth got into the act submitting a letter in favor of this resolution.  And we all know by now, the Council and Mayor listen to Cindy over their constituents..  In actuallity, is this resolution a Proposition 26 violation and can be considered a gift of public funds when it is only reserved for a few?

It also appears there are miscellaneous fees and charges that these businesses will still be responsible for such as Energy Users Tax, Utility Users Tax and good ol’ Cap and Trade Premiums (Which is a Charge on Industrial CO2 emissions).  Which many legitimate scientist state it is a scam to pad local municipalities.  We haven’t even mentioned property taxes.  So is it still a good idea? or is Arizona or Nevada still a better choice?

         

From the Mayor’s Ball on the 6th floor of the new Citrus Towers, also know as BB&K Central, A possible new Multi-Modal Transportation Hub, are Electric Bonds actually ‘Hedge Funds’?  What happened to the monies written off and not paid for by the Department of Finance, is the taxpayer still responsible?  Is the Priamos Tape and example of Pension Spiking?  Local Blogger Mary Shelton, of Five Before Midnight,  has conflicting words with the Mayor….. And public speaking, leading to public sleeping…stay tuned….more to come….   and more to come…THE FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE RUSSELL LEACH DEPOSITIONS COMING SOON!  WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED WITH COUNCILMAN WILLIAM “RUSTY” BAILEY AND THEN SGT. VALMONT GRAHAM?  YOU BE THE JUDGE! THE WHOLE DEPOSITION IN PRINT!

UPDATE: 09/12/2012: THREE CITY COUNCILMAN BEFUDDLED BY THE DECISION OF CITY MANAGEMENT TO KEEP THE RED LIGHT CAMERA’S ALTHOUGH IN EXCESS OF 80% OF RESIDENTS FEEL THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED.  According to the Press Enterprise Councilmen Paul Davis, Chris Mac Arthur and Mike Gardner were surprise when news reached them that the decision to keep the red light cameras would remain until the contract ends in 2016.  Regardless of the fact the majority of cities all over the nation has removes them as a result of not only a safety issue, but because of cost deficits they were causing municipalities.  In Riverside the cost deficit is $611,000.00 so far.  The other issue with red light cameras is that receiving a citation by mail is considered not properly served, therefore not enforceable.

Others are asking the question of why city management made this decision, over council? And if they actually can do this, or if they were only excercising section 407 of the City Charter, which states that “Neither the Mayor nor the City Council nor any of it’s members shall interfere with execution by the City Manager (now Scott Barber) of his/her powers and duties, or order.”  TMC posted an article on this subject, “The Red Light Scam, Council Mayhem on the Streets of Riverside?”  Even now, others are questioning the activities of Councilman Steve Adams, if there was any alleged intervention with City Management.  He may call it political.  But his name continues to come up time after time whereby his alleged actions have costed city taxpayers a mint.  Some are now coining him “Mr. Liability”, after statement allegedly made in staff meetings by City Attorney Greg Priamos.

Many of the decisions Adams makes are in lieu of his brother Ron Adams working in the red light screening for the City.  Is this a conflict of interest?  Possibly, but again he may call it “a political tactic”, as reported in the PE.  Even to the extent of inferring there is a conspiracy involved, because there are certain people associated with a certain councilman.  We all know Adams is referring to Councilman Paul Davis, but we can assure Adams that these community residents he may be referring don’t make friends easily, of which is the case.  Adams went on to state that the issue of his brother, the attempt to create an issue of a non issue is “absolute harrassment”.

In addition, Councilman and Mayoral Candidate William “Rusty” Bailey was also a supporter of the the red light cameras and voted on their continuance.  Why continue with this endeavor when red light camera’s are currently runnning at lossess in excess of $600,000.00 to the taxpayer?  Why continue when many cities all over the country are dropping them, even Redlands, CA.  So why continue?  A good question to ask Mayoral Candidate Rusty Bailey.

UPDATE: 09/05/2012: EL TEQUESQUITE PARK NEEDS MORE DIRT?  ACCORDING TO THE PRESS ENTERPRISE EL TEQUESQUITE PARK NEEDS APPROXIMATELY 1,800 TRUCKLOADS OF DIRT (20,000 CUBIC YARDS) IN ORDER TO REPLACE WHAT WAS REMOVED. 

    

THIS IS NOT SMALL POTATOES, WAS THE DIRT REMOVED CONTAMINATED?  THE FACTS ARE THAT THE ENGINEER’S CALCULATIONS WERE OFF BY 1,800 TRUCKLOADS (20,000 CUBIC YARDS OF SOIL).  QUITE SIGNIFICANT FOR JUST AN ERROR.  ACCORDINGLY, THE CITY OR THE TAXPAYER WILL HAVE TO DISH OUT NOT MORE THAN $200,000 TO SPREAD IT AROUND, THE NEW DIRT THAT IS.

THIS IS A TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER…PLEASE SEND YOU’RE “PACKAGED DIRT” TO CITY HALL TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY FINISH THE PARK!

JUST FOR LAUGHS..

A PAST INSCRIPTION OF THE FUTURE OF WHAT THE CITY NEEDS MOST ON A CRATE OF ORANGES?

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN…

RIVERSIDE CITRUS GROVES, CIRCA 1930, MT. RUBIDOUX CAN BE SEEN IN THE DISTANCE AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER AND PACHAPPA HILL TOWARD THE UPPER CENTER.

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 ONE 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: FIRE INSPECTOR: I FELT DISS’D RESPECTED & DISS’D CRIMINATED & HARASS’D..

Posted: September 6, 2012 in Uncategorized
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I’m finding it difficult to understand the claim of August 28, 2012 at City Council, whereby City Attorney Gregory Priamos stated a “Discrimination” and “Harrassment” Complaint had been received against Councilman Paul Davis.  I’m not seeing it.  The players involved were Councilman Mike Gardner, Councilman Chris Mac Arthur, Councilwoman Nancy Hart, Counciman William “Rusty” Bailey and Councilman Steve Adams.  Councilman Andy Melendrez was not present and wasn’t aware of the political dynamics at play.  The problem with having one side of the story, is that it is one side of the story, and of course there is always two sides to that story.

                                    

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW INTERVIEW DOC                      CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW ACTION REPORT DOC

The event in question known as the “Food Truck Festival” took place May 29th,  2012.  Now to begin with, the Intake Interview was done by Steven Espinosa and Human Resources Director, AKA “Luxury Girl”, Rhonda Strout.  Ms. Strouts Lexis license plate states “Luxury Girl”.

So in this scenario “Diss’d Girl” or Fire Inspector did not like the fact that someone went above her to resolve a problem.  I worked in Corporate Retail for 17 years.  I’ve known what I can and cannot do within the realms of my job description.  It is acceptable to go to the next level to resolve a problem.  I have never felt diss’d or disrespected by this.  It appears to be a different scenario in Public Service.  In this scenario, the fire inspector seems to feel it is unacceptable to contact the next person in charge for a difference in opinion.  Further, feels disrespected by this action.  We do this with physcian’s all the time when getting a second opinion, always acceptable.  Going to the next person in charge should always be acceptable, no one should feel disrespected by this, otherwise I would see this as a personal problem.  If you purchase a product at a electronic store, then have a problem with it and want to return it, the first person you would meet would be the floor sales person.  If the problem was not resolved, you request the Assistant Manager, if problem continues not be resolved you request the Store Manager etc.  Nothing wrong with this scenario, it is how things are done.  The Davis’s did the right thing and called a superior, this was Chief Earley.   A Fire Marshall then made the decision to give some leeway with this event and resolve the situation.  While Fire Inspector girl appeared consumed by her own feelings and according to the first document above, Davis made her like she was “just nothing there”.  What’s also interesting, was the fact that she appeared to attempt to bring a demeaning aspect to the Davis’s by bringing in the ‘alcohol’ term.  She states that Mr. Davis was observed beer tasting but not inebriated at all, why’ll Mrs. Davis did not drink at all.

She also went on to say that she felt Councilman Paul Davis was demeaning towards her, because she was a ‘woman’.  This allegation was made without any direct evidence of wrong doing by Davis.  But our crack City Attorney Priamos accepted it as a bonafide “Discrimination Complaint”.  Female Fire Inspector states many times Davis was ‘loud’, in one instance she says he was ‘verbally abusive’, in another instance, he was ‘loud and argumentative with no foul language’.   But maybe the reason Davis was ‘loud’ was because a band was playing.  In one instant, Mrs. Davis called Chief Earley, and her phone was handed to Female Fire Inspector.  Fire Inspector mentions on the report that when on the phone she tries to tell the Chief what is happening, but the band is playing and she cannot hear the Chief at all.  So, if she admits the Chief could not be heard, could we have had a misunderstanding of perception?  Perception continues, she perceives that when Mrs. May Davis is talking to the Chief, that she stresses the word “inspector” in a rude fashion.  Fire Inspector states Mrs. May chose a certain company because the City uses the same company to “handle there fire stuff”.   Fire Inspector doesn’t know what Mrs. Davis meant by “handles their fire stuff”.  Selective perception?  The Fire Inspector’s solution for Mr. Davis getting the correct K-Extinguisher on a Sunday with limited time before the event opening, is for him to go ‘look through the yellow pages’.

Now, not only have I said this, but many of the merchants in downtown have said this to the closed ears of City Hall representatives.  Councilman Davis is right, “This is why no one comes to Riverside”.  And the solution, “The Council needs to get involved”.  If anyone has tried to have an event or even open a business in Riverside, it is difficult, because of all the rules, regulations, ordinances and laws, but if the City is involved, all those problems cease to exist.

What has happened to Public Service scenario?   Whereby one individual with a badge, can make personal claims of harrassments, discrimmination, disrespectfulness, rudeness, interferring with doing their job, and create a scenario with an impressive ending.   What if there is a personality disorder involved with the badge, how would this be addressed?   A badge has power, and it’s power should not be abused.  Does the power of a badge allow no leeway for questions?  How would a complaint be reasonably assessed for accuracy and legitimacy without receiving a response from the defendent?  Has fire inspection become another money making enterprise for cities under the auspices of safety?

While others are asking the question, was there other activities involved.  Did she have help from some of those on the dais?  While we have seen others on the dais with worse allegations of improprieties.  Councilman Paul Davis has been the loan wolf when voting against one ambulance company known as AMR (American Medical Response) being the sole provider of it’s services to the City of Riverside.  Could this have open up a Pandora’s Box of conspiratorial activities focused on Davis?  It’s no secret of the friendships between AMR’s Peter Hubbard and Fire Chief Steve Earley, Tim Stack (President of the Riverside Firefighter’s Union), City Attorney Gregory Priamos, and Councilman Steve Adams.

According to the first document, this female fire inspector has worked for the City of Riverside for over 25 years.  TMC has asked for those hires dates.

UPDATE: 09/14/2012: AS PER PUBLIC RECORD THE HIRE DATE FOR FIRE INSPECTOR LISA MUNOZ IS (01/04/1991) WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY 21 YEARS AS 2012.  THE HIRE DATE FOR FIRE INSPECTOR RONNIE FOREST IS (10/13/1987) WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY 25 YEARS AS OF 2012.

Some of Riverside’s Notable Fire Inspectors: Margaret Albanese, Lisa Munoz, John Arendas and Roni Forst.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY AN UPDATE …WHO’S THE BIGGER ‘IDIOT’?

Topics became fiery when former Riverside Deputy City Attorney commented on the Councilman Paul Davis Food Truck Festival and what happens in City Attorney Greg Priamo’s staff meetings.

Regarding the Food Truck Festival, Raychelle went on to say, “Once again your city attorney made you all look like a bunch of asses and this blew up in your face.  Now Mr. Davis, everybody is rallying around him, because they  know that you tried to railroaded him.  So what has happened now?  Rusty, Steve…. you deflected it off of  Davis and placed it upon yourself.

Rusty we don’t want a mayor who is a puppet, and responds to the the pulling of a string. We want someone who has independent thought.  Which I have never seen from you.  You don’t have to be the puppet, Rusty, your capable of making those decision yourself…

I want to tell you what happens during Greg Priamos’s staff meetings…

Mike, you were probably talked about more than anybody. Greg despises you, your an “idiot.”

Andy, you are an “idiot” too.

Rusty, you are a nice guy but you’re “green”,  everything you have ever gotten and everything you ever done was because your fathers a judge.

Paul, I don’t have enough time to talk about all the things he’s said about you, your wife and everything.

Chris, I don’t think he said anything about you, because you were a USC boy.

Nancy , you’re the sweetest nicest but you don’t know what you are doing.

Steve, you are a “huge liability” to the city and we all got a huge chuckle when Greg told about your infamous towing incident.  Which I think was all over the paper.

The Mayor, he never says anything bad about you because he’s to busy “puckering up to your keister.”

All I can say about Dan Berstein’s story, is it received your attention and a write up in the Press Enterprise.  I’m sure Raychelle is more than capable of using an array of classic and bubbling terms to reach the same point, but you must agree, this was more exciting to hear and certainly made her point!

You can scold a gadfly as people who speak out are labeled in a derogatory fashion and that’ s fair enough  but if that becomes the “story” rather than whether or not the allegations are true or not including any potentially illegal pension spiking, then a publication is truly failing in its mission in investigative reporting and as a governmental watchdog.   – Mary Shelton, Commenter on the PE

CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY: SALVADOR SANTANA WEIGHED IN ON THE HYPOCRISY OF AN INVESTIGATION

Salvador went on to report to council and describe the chain of events as he saw it.  Salvador Santana is the editor for the blog site  “The Truth Publication Online”.  What we have found was that there were allegedly issues and complaints of sexual harassment that were never addressed by the City.  His report was as follows.

I have never seen been before in a democratic country an investigation in which the investigator interviewed one side of the conflicting story and makes a report without listening to the other side.  Even the worst criminal have their say in court.  This is exactly what happened in the case of Councilman Paul Davis who was publicly reprimanded  by this council.  First time, the first time in the history of Riverside that a Councilman has been reprimanded in public.  Not even one of those city officials, who gave police badges, priveledge cold plate license plates to friends, were reprimanded, neither the recipient.  Sexual harassment cases were never a subject to a reprimand.

What was the horrible crime committed by Davis.  Did he steal money?  Did he rape someone?  Did he hit the inspector?  Did he do something immoral?  Non of the above, Davis only had an argument with a fire department inspector who complained he was very very rude.  An incident of minor importance,  Of which by the way was one of many which has taken place in this chamber hundreds of times.  Then the city spent money, we don’t know how much, contracting private investigator Jeff Collopy.  Which he is very well known by City Attorney Greg Priamos. We know that Paul Davis and Priamos have had profound differences in the past on city issues.  This has been plain and simple a political vendetta against Paul Davis. Do to the incomplete and faulty Investigators report, that violated Davis’s rights to express his side of his story.  I’m requesting from this council an apology to Paul Davis.

VIVIAN MORENO, SELF APPOINTED CITIZEN AUDITOR: “SEIZING OUR DESTINY” OR “STEALING OUR DESTINY.”

We probably have the highest debt per capita rate in the State of California.  The house of cards in the City of Riverside will fall and when they do, they will all fall at once.  “Seizing Our Destiny” represents the dreams of the leadership of the City (Mayor Ron Loveridge).  I call it “Stealing Our Destiny.”

The fundamental problem has been the constant borrowing of more money than we could ever pay back.  We borrow to payback borrowed money.  So how is it that none of the Law Firms you use or Financial Advisors raise any questions?  Maybe because they make hundreds and thousands of dollars in fees off of the Loans and Bonds.

The Mayor should have been advocate for the City but instead chose to be a Debt Addict, and once you started, you need more and more debt to satisfy your fix.  With our ongoing debt, we will find it harder to cover Basic Services.  But the advocates for the City that stand before you, week after week, will remind you of the millions you spent on:

  1. New Furniture and Bathrooms for the Mayor and City Manager on the Seventh Floor.
  2. The Three Million Dollar plus in the Café at City Hall
  3. The Millions you spend going out to Lunch and taking your favorite girl or your favorite council person, and Councilman Steve Adam’s, we know you like to eat.
  4. The $600,000.00 you gave to Connie Leach.
  5. The Millions you gave to your favorite Developer.
  6. Your Luxury Car allowances.
  7. Your Guns and Cold Plates.
  8. Your Traveling Allowances.

and what you will leave the Citizens of Riverside, Mayor,  is your Broken Dreams, Tax Hikes and your increases in our Utility Bills.

COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS BAITING FORMER DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY RAYCHELE STERLING.

Raychele,  I like to thank you because if you had not done the public request we would not ever known about the issue of Paul Davis being accused of and found guilty of abuse against one of our employee’s.

NEXT UP, COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS BAITING COUNCILMAN PAUL DAVIS…AND HOW MUCH HAS STEVO, “MR. LIABILITY” COST THE TAXPAYER? $1.00 OR $500,000.00 OR EVEN MORE!

JOEL UDAYKE, OWNER OF THE FLOWERLOFT: YOU WERE “HOODWINKED”..

Rusty, you were “hoodwinked” again by City Council, by you making those statements against Paul Davis.  He is going to be your best buddy advocate on City Council..Paul Davis I support you but you have a challenge ahead of you.

UPDATE: 09/10/2012: ACCORDING TO CITY MANGER SCOTT BARBER, 12% OF VACANT JOBS ON THE BOOKS HAVE NO FUNDING.  THE CITY COUNCIL CAN VOTE THIS TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 TO DELETE 229 JOBS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE UNFUNDED.  

UPDATE: 09/10/2012: Riverside City Attorney Greg Priamos will lead the City Council through a two-hour ethics training session Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 12 noon till 2 p.m. in the Mayor’s Ceremonial Room, 7th floor, City Hall.

FIRE AND STINK IN RIVERSIDE?  FIRE AGAIN IN THE SANTA ANA RIVER BOTTOM, AND THAT SMELL PERMEATING THE AIR, WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM?  IS IT THE SALTON SEA?  LA TIMES REPORTS ON THAT SMELL.  AND  MY DESERT REPORTS AS FOLLOWS (CLICK THIS LINK).

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN…FIRE STATION #1, CIRCA 1910, AT THE CORNER OF EIGHTH AND LIME STREETS. (EIGHTH STREET IS NOW UNIVERSITY AVENUE).

JUST FOR LAUGHS…

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.  PROUDLY RATED ONE STAR (POSSIBLY DOWN TO ZERO FROM OUR LAST ACCOUNTS) 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 FOR GOOD REASON, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST, FOR GOOD REASON… 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 SPHALL SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR CONTACT US BY THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS! CONTRIBUTORS WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED… YES, WE EXPECT THE JAIL TIME FOR THAT ONE…  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: THE PRIAMOS TAPE: IS THIS INSURANCE FRAUD? IS THIS PENSION SPIKING?

Posted: August 29, 2012 in Uncategorized
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THE TRANSCRIPT:

Greg Priamos 8:17 am

Hi Susan, this is Greg, uhmm, this is confidential, ahh what I’d like you to do today, please don’t share this with anybody.  I’d like you to prepare a Deputy City Attorney contract for Kathy Gonzales, ahh it would be a monthly salary of $10,111.00, an annual salary of $121,332.00, that works out  to $4,666.61 per pay period, Could you please put that together, uhmm.

Kathy has called me this morning and told me she is willing to, ugh, to accept that, and become a Deputy, and a she’s going to try and come back and work part time, supplemented by her vacation, sick leave, so she can get a year in order to get the higher retirement and death benefits for her family.

So, I told her I would move this forward as quickly as I could and get her reclassified.  So if you could please get that contract with duplicate originals together and I’d like to…I’ll make arrangements to get it over to the hospital so she can sign those.  Bye-bye.

end of transcript—-

Susan Allen is City Attorney Gregory Priamos’s secretary.  Was she also the one who went to his home on taxpayer time to decorate his home for Christmas.  Was she even given extra paid days off after the good job she did.  What else does Susan Allen do for Mr. “P”?

Kathleen Gonzales was a superior attorney in Priamos’s department and excellent employee.  She dedicated much of her time to community and was an asset to us all.  She had been sick and was in the hospital when this recording was made.  We understand weeks after this taped conversation she had passed away around March 2004.  She was allegedly promoted from a salary of around $80,000.00 to $122,332.00.  There is the fact that Priamos knew she was terminally ill by her being admitted to the hospital days before, but promoted her (as per his comment on the tape) to pad her retirement and death benefits to her family.  The promotion was for the full time position of Deputy City Attorney.  Can this be construed as a ‘gift of public funds’ by our City Attorney?   According to Priamos, Kathleen indicated to him that she would try to come back and work part time, supplemented by her vacation pay and sick leave, though days earlier she was admitted to the hospital under a terminal condition.  The question TMC is asking, “Is this insurance fraud”?  “Isn’t this pension spiking”?

According to the tape, Priamos has his secretary Susan Allen draw up the contract, rather than a qualified contract attorney on staff or even luxury girl, Rhonda Strout, of the Human Resources department who could properly handle promotion paper work.  The action was also done in secrecy and confidentiality between Priamos and his secretary.  Why would a promotion be confidential and secret?  The position Gonzales was at, she would have received 1.5 times her annual salary if she passed, the new position would entitle her to 5 times her annual salary.  Priamos distinctly indicated on tape this was to be done for her to receive a higher retirement and death benefits for her family.

The following document indicates that secretary Susan Allen is the tenth highest paid employee in the City Attorney’s office, even being paid a higher salary then three staff attorney’s.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW DOCUMENT

Did Gregory Priamos know that his secretary took confidential work messages home for safe keeping?  And why would she do that?  What were the details of the scandal that hit his office which involved his secretary some years back?  Was there a reason she continued to remain on staff?  How many more tapes did Susan Allen take home, and for what underlying reason or purpose?  How many other employees are keeping official records at home?  Why was this the story the Press Enterprise would not print?

We know this is really sensitive material but TMC is showing how city business is done even in the most sensitive of issues.  Is this irresponsible, outrageous, possibly illegal and with the probability of some legal liability to the taxpayer?  We indicate other examples whereby city employees were ordered to clean up contaminated soils at AG (Agricultural) Park before Hazmat came in.  Some employees fell ill.  Were they compensated equally?  Or were they treated differently to protect against the allegations they made toward the City.  As of Tuesday, August 28, 2012 there were 13 lawsuits pending in close sessions at 1:00pm.  Former City of Riverside Raychelle Sterling stated that NBC has accepted to do a series of stories of the contaminated PCB site known as AG (Agricultural) Park regarding the alleged false information that was submitted by the City to such Departments as the EPA, and the City’s use of non protected employees to clean up the site. 

THE PRIAMOS EXPENSE ACCOUNT: A PARTY THE TAXPAYER WASN’T INVITED TO!

Usually in the private sector when there is a going away party everybody chips in.  It could be money, pot luck contributions etc.  But if you worked at City Attorney’s Greg Priamos’s office, your going away party was TAXPAYER PAID.

The following are receipts acquired through the public records request act, which shows you the taxpayer paid for former Deputy City Attorney Eddie Diaz’s Farewell Party for $154.19 including ingredients for homemade cake from Ralph’s.

                                       

CLICK ON IMAGES TO VIEW FULL DOCUMENT

THE LANZILLO INCIDENT

UPDATE: 08/29/2012: FORMER AND FIRED RIVERSIDE POLICE OFFICER, CHRIS LANZILLO MAKES THE NEWS..  WHAT GOES? FIRED RPD OFFICER CHRIS LANZILLO IS REINSTATED WITH RPD THEN SIGNS OFF ON A DISABILITY RETIREMENT, AND IS THEN FOUND TO BE WORKING WITH AN INVESTIGATION COMPANY HE STARTED.  IS THIS INSURANCE FRAUD? 

“Are Police Unions crossing the line while bullying public officials?” as in this news story.  Does the Upland Law Firm Lackie, Dammeier & McGill have a play book? as in this news story “How Police Play Hardball At The Bargaining Table”.   The following is the Playbook created by Lackie, Dammeier & McGill, pretty disturbing stuff, appears even to the level of the “Shake Down”, “Strong Arm” or a “Piracy Operation” as some of main stream news sources are elusively indicating (Click This Link).  The Playbook was quickly removed from their web site when the cow pies began fly.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Former RPD Officer and now Private Investigator, Chris Lanzillo, had done work for this Upland Law Firm.

Let me see if I’ve got this straight…A Riverside detective named Chris Lanzillo gets fired…then is called back so that he can be retired early on a medical disability…which qualifies him to recieve his pay in large part tax free for the rest of his life.  BUT…he’s not so disabled that he can’t work as a private investigator for a law firm that represents cops and cop unions…and shall we say…suuplement his retirement pay……Is that absurd or what!  He’s a bad cop who’s now a crook…and we got to pay his freight for the rest of his life!  – John Bosch, Commenter on the Orange County Register

UPDATE: 09/01/2012: DA SUBPOENAED VIDEO FROM COSTA MESA BAR, WHERE LANZILLO SAYS COUNCILMAN RIGHEIMER WAS DRUNK.  According to a KTLA report, Lanzillo stated that Councilman Righeimer stumbled out of the bar and was swirving all over the road in 911 call.  According to the video, it showed that he was not.  The police officer who went to Councilman Righeimer’s home, found he was not drunk, and found he had only drank two diet cokes.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher became involved, now a Federal investigation will ensue.  According to Police Chief Sergio Diaz in a 2010 Press Enterprise story,  Lanzillo was fired “not because he was a member of the leadership of the [police union], but because he did some really bad things.”   The specifics of “the really bad things” was not elaborated on by the chief.  Incidently, former Detective Lanzillo was President of the Riverside Police Officers’ Association, in other words, a ‘Police Union’.

A very similar incident occurred with Buena Park Councilman Fred Smith in this Orange County Register story.

Jack Wu of the Daily Pilot brought this coveted point, if Lanzillo was getting paid to investigate and watch someone else, then stop and waste precious time following Councilman Righeimer whom he thought was drunk.  Wouldn’t you want your money back and question if there was some sort of attention deficit associated with his medical disability? 

In an article by Lauren Williams of the Daily Pilot, The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LLPPL) issued a statement critical of Upland based law firm Lackie, Dammeier & McGill and criticized the Costa Mesa Police Association (A Police Union).  They said that “Hardball Tactics”, or what I would say “Intimidation Tactics” can erode the publics trust.  Residents in communities trust and the need the police to protect and serve.  When these types of incidents occurr, the citizens see the police as a seperate entity, whereby the residents health and safety become at risk, and they to become intimidated by uncertaintity of who’s benefit the police really serve.   The LLPPL have a long and proven  record of working with city officials to ensure that public safety comes first.  It’s now left to the Fed’s to investigate the activities of this law firm and respond to the public with their conclusions.

Is the power of the badge being used to “bully” and/or being used in “enforcer type tactics” for police unions against elected officials?  Have police unions and law firms taken their activities to a different level that will become a red flag for the Feds?  An article by Steven Frank of California News and Views has this to say about that subject.

What I’m getting from some of these reports is disturbing.  Have Police become so powerful that they are somehow controlling certain political scenarios?  This would definitely not benefit the taxpayer, but the very few, and therefore become a public health and safety issue.  So now you have a police union, an attorney law firm with a police background, possibly with some outside police officers working together in unison using the grey areas of the law to terrorize and shake down individuals in city government, then decisions and contracts are then negotiated under these circumstances.  Others in elected positions are saying that the law firm harasses by threatening grand jury investigations.  Well if anybody knows, you can file a grand jury investigation against just about anything, you are harassed by the fact that you have to deal with it.  Sounds like a good tactic as others say in the business, a “client control” strategy.  Taking it a step further, is this part of the reason why California has unsustainable union contracts, is going bankrupt, and/or the reason why these contracts cannot be fulfilled or honored?  Then the question would be, were some of these contracts not negotiated in the best interest of the taxpayer due to ulterior motives?  Something to think about, this is what movies are made out of..

UPDATE:08/30/2012: AFTER BEING PASSED OVER 35 TIMES, AND YEARS AFTER COUNCILMAN “RUSTY” BAILEY’S TEMPER TANTRUM OF FEELING DISRESPECTED AT A COMMUNITY MEETING, SERGEANT VALMONT GRAHAM IS FINALLY PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT.  TMC CONGRATULATE’S LIEUTENANT VALMONT GRAHAM.

JUST FOR LAUGHS….THE SECOND TIME THIS MONTH THEY SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF….WHICH ONE OF YOU RELEASED THAT STORY ON THE MAYOR?  BERNSTEIN!  ROBINSON!

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN…RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY, CIRCA 1963

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.  PROUDLY RATED ONE STAR (POSSIBLY DOWN TO ZERO FROM OUR LAST ACCOUNTS) 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 FOR GOOD REASON, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST, FOR GOOD REASON… 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 SPHALL SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR CONTACT US BY THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS! CONTRIBUTORS WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED… YES, WE EXPECT THE JAIL TIME FOR THAT ONE…  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: THE PAUL DAVIS COMPLAINT: TO HEATED OF AN ISSUE FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT?

Posted: August 28, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Tuesday’s City Council begain with the rattle, then the strike and finally the discharge of venom by City Attorney Gregory Priamos by reading a complaint laid out against Councilman Paul Davis by a Fire Inspector.  Was this premature?  It wasn’t to long ago that a deposition by former Chief Russell Leach was release prematurely by Priamos, and the case was still active and ongoing, and in this case Bailey came out looking disfigured.   Today, Priamos released a bombshell against City Councilman Paul Davis regarding a complaint issued by a female fire inspector.  This stemmed from a June 12th, 2012 incident at the food truck festival regarding fire hydrants.  Davis and his wife were organizers of this event.  According to Councilman Davis a female fire inspector percieved that he was ‘loud’ and ‘disruptive’, therefore the complaint, and according to the Press Enterprise, felt she was ‘disrespected’.  Disrespected possibly because Councilman Davis called Chief Earley in front of her?  Now, anyone who has worked in the private sector knows, if you reach a wall with one person, you ask for the next person in charge.  This isn’t ‘disrespectful’, this is ‘expected’ and ‘acceptable’.  She also made mention that he was ‘rude’ and ‘interfered with her work’.  Then this incident evolved into a ‘discrimination’ and ‘harassment’ complaint.  According to Priamos the ‘discrimination’ and ‘harassment’ complaint was investigated by the City and it was determined to be ‘founded’ against Davis.  Therefore, it happened as indicated.  ‘Discrimination’ and ‘harassment’ accusations are serious.  So, could the perception of the chain events be a misunderstanding which now became a ‘harassment’ and ‘discrimination’ complaint?  Now, we all know about ‘harassment’ and ‘discrimination’ complaints because we have seen enough of these lawsuits filed against the City by employees.  The City, it appears forgot one thing, according to Davis he was never ‘interviewed’.  So how did this get by the good city attorney many are asking?  Well, were not sure.  But Priamos did hire a friend, former RPD Lt. Jeff Collopy, Internal Affairs Bureau, to do the “independent investigative work” on this complaint, except he forgot to ‘interview’ Councilman Davis regarding his side of the story.  “Independent”, we as you can see, Collopy was far from that.  According to a posting by Alicia Robinson of the Press Enterprise, former Lt. Jeff Collopy charged the City/ taxpayer $85/ hour for 10 hours of investigative work for a total of $850.00.

Sidenote: Is this really about Councilman Davis forcing Priamos to be transparent?  Two weeks ago, Tueseday August 14, 2012, at city council closed session, Priamos was asked to produce his personal reimbursement schedule for public record, and was given 72 hours.

This carried forward to Councilman Bailey acting as Mayor Pro-Tem, also known as “Independent voice of Riverside”.  “The City Council does not condone the actions of Councilman Davis, founded through a complaint and interview by a city employee and investigated by a private detective,” Bailey said.  “The City Council will continue to call out for behavior expected of a public official serving the residents of Riverside.”

Well okay, but we know Bailey has a few skeletons in his closet that can be called out for behavior expected of a public official serving the residents of Riverside.  Let’s not forget Councilman Steve Adam’s sliding by complaints, or the citizens complaint against Adams files by six members of the La Sierra/ Arlanza Neighborhood Aliance that was dismissed by former City Manager Brad Hudson.  Again, did Bailey know Davis never gave his side of the story in what is called an ‘interview’?

Davis went on to say.  However, I do want to add something to this, this unfounded or finding of the complaint now that it has been read out of my arrangement has not been completed.  And I’m hoping that we can.  I have not been ‘interviewed’ officially, for them to say that it was ‘founded’, I do have ‘cause on that’.  But to that person I’m very sorry, and that should be a public statement to her.  What was just read was not what I’m comfortable with.

We know the Councilman Davis and Councilman Adams have had their spirited disagreements, but for some reason it seemed that Councilman Steve Adams was egging Councilman Davis on by the following statement.  “Are you feeling that you weren’t handled appropriately?”  …….Nope, we can handled it now, you just made the statement, Adams said.  Would you like to call for an independent investigation? So that you make sure that your rights are upheld, Adams continued.  “Steve!”, Davis answered, “the information that we discussed was that it was in position that it should have been handle.  Now a statement comes out that says that in fact it was ‘founded.’”  “That is the report that was given”, Steve said…  Davis then said, “that my understanding is that one piece of this is not ‘founded’.”  The mayor then intervened as stated that the conclusion of the report was that it was ‘founded.’

Davis went on to say that “I have great difficulty with what was just read by city attorney’s office that was not discussed.”

Even Councilman Mike Gardner layed in his two cents with all the trivial remaining sense he had, and said, “as far as the council is concerned, it’s now done”.

It appears that there were parts that complaint that were ambiguously discussed behind closed doors, then an occurrence unbeknownst to him happened.  The complaint was ‘founded’.  Not a simple complaint now, it now evolved to a ‘harassment’ and ‘discrimination’ complaint.  In TMC’s opinion the lines of separation are evident, and the damage of an unaligned railroad apparent.

“The damage is done,” Davis said.

As a kids game, when you are no longer wanted as part of the pack, the bullying happens and is becomes apparent.. for whatever reason..the munimob has spoken..you can’t question it, it just is…

It appears that there were parts that complaint that were ambiguously discussed behind closed doors by ‘the City’, then an occurrence unbeknownst to him happened.  The complaint was ‘founded’.  Not a simple complaint now, it now evolved to a ‘harassment’ and ‘discrimination’ complaint.

We understand now that not even an interview of the incident was given to Councilman Davis, it appears to be a complete violation of procedure, as many are weighing in.  It’s no secret to many of Councilman’s Davis’s relationship with Priamos, and even with other councilman, such Steve Adam’s, who also put his two cents worth on the issue.  Now it’s also not uncommon to see Priamos with Adams at a local watering hole such as Mazz at the Riverside Plaza.  But others are asking now is this retaliation toward a tape of Priamos released last week at City Council, which of course the tape had nothing to do with Councilman Davis, but simply a breach within his own office.  At City Council, former Deputy Attorney Raychelle Sterling weighed in toward Councilman Mike Gardner that Priamos would call him an ‘idiot’ at staff meetings. “ I don’t know why you support the city attorney.”  We found he also called Councilman Bailey an ‘idiot’, as well.  She went further to state that Councilman Adams is a liability to the city.

So why is Priamos acting this way?  We go back in time and ask the questions on certain incidents.  The episode and complaint against former Councilman Dom Betro yelling inappropriatly and making threatening comments on Main Street at Kevin Dawson and his daughter, what did Priamos say then? Nothing..  What about the Valmont Graham discrimination case? Where Councilman Bailey may have had a part in Officer Graham not getting promoted, due to a percieved perception.  Now costing the taxpayer extrodinary litigation expenses because of a misunderstanding?  It’s been perceived that Priamos protects those he has relationships with, and others he doesn’t.  Even though he says he serves at the pleasure of the council, a different turn of event occurs behind the close doors of the Priamos office.  Many at this time are beginning to think, doesn’t the City Attorney represents and protects the needs of the community against liabilities?  Well think again, there is a whole other set of dynamics that don’t include the taxpayer, the employer.  Possibly as some have said, a whole other culture has developed at City Hall.  Viewing the incident, we know that Councilman Davis has been the sole person to vote for another ambulance company entering the boundaries of the City, such as Mission Ambulance. Could we say that the complaint by the fire inspector suspicious?  It was filed solely based on perception? Perception than now became harassment and discrimination.  Perception sure has exploded.  Let’s also not forget Priamos friendship with Peter Hubbard who runs AMR (American Medical Response).  The following is a transcribed letter of the original,  written by Priamos to the law firm representing Mission Ambulance, and telling them they cannot send a representative to City Council in order to lobby for them.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LETTER

Let’s take it a step further, his friendship with Councilman Steve Adams.  We have witnesses who seen them together at one of their favorite watering holes, the Salted Pig.  Okay, now I’m beginning to think is this whole episode politically motivated?  We forgot to say that Councilman Davis also spoke with Fire Chief Steve Earley, who state he could not comment on the complaint.

Fire Chief Earley is also a friend of AMR’s Peter Hubbard.  There has been some talk around town that Peter Hubbard (AMR) hosted Tim Stack (President of the Riverside City Firefighter Union) and Wendy Stack’s wedding reception at Peter Hubbard’s home.  We shouldn’t be surprised, after all, this is River City and screwing is king…

Of course, you know there is more to come… stayed tuned for another episode of “As Riverside Turns Your Stomach”.

“Elected officials aren’t typically involved in such investigations”… yes, that’s right. The difference here is that the staff is completely out of  control, and have repeatedly demonstrated a complete disregard for the citizens they serve. When people complain about “out of control government” this is what they’re complaining about. The staff does what they want, when they want without regard to their elected officials. Totally unacceptable. We need stronger and  better oversight on the council.   -Jim Stewart, Commenter on the PE

Yes, let’s have the city pay to block off some streets for a food truck festival and then not allow the food trucks we invited to the city to sell their food. Good for Davis for getting upset at that kind of nonsense. I was at a separate event with food trucks and the county inspectors were waiting at the gates of the event like rabid dogs. Using selective enforcement to single out and shut down businesses is one of the reasons why this state is in the mess it is in.  -John Rockwell, Commenter on the PE

Let’s start a forum of stories about fire inspectors being rude.  – Sharon Marshall, Commenter on the PE

So the city hires private investigators to handle complaints involving elected officials. Good! Now perhaps they can investigate the ones who allegedly  violated the city charter by interfering in the police department’s promotional process.   – Mary Shelton, Commenter on the PE

But this complaint is politically motivated, plain and simple – Paul questions the kickback given by AMR to the fire chief, and then this happens. It’s ridiculous.  – Jim Stewart, Commenter on the PE

If I were mayor pro tem, and was running for that very office, I might have used the “Face Time” for more strategic issues facing our city, and not bickering over an issue which has yet to be resolved.  – Ron Woodbury, Commenter on the PE

UPDATE: 08/29/2012: A REPORT FROM THE PRESS ENTERPRISE IS STATING THAT COUNCILMAN DAVIS’S COMPLAINT HAS BEEN RESOLVED.  NOW THAT THE DUST HAS SEEMED TO SETTLE, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM CITY ATTORNEY PRIAMOS’S NEXT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION?

JUST FOR LAUGHS PERSPECTIVE..

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN…RIVERSIDE MAIN STREET MALL, CIRCA 1966

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.  PROUDLY RATED ONE STAR (POSSIBLY DOWN TO ZERO FROM OUR LAST ACCOUNTS) 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 FOR GOOD REASON, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST, FOR GOOD REASON… 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 SPHALL SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR CONTACT US BY THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS! CONTRIBUTORS WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED… YES, WE EXPECT THE JAIL TIME FOR THAT ONE…  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TO MOODY TO FITCH? OR WILL POOR BE THE STANDARD IN THE RATING SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA MUNICIPALITIES?

Posted: August 23, 2012 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , ,
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According to Moodys, the nations largest issuer of municipal bonds, they are asking the question, is bankruptcy becoming a popular strategic choice for municipalities in order to deal with debt?  Well they think so and and in response they will begin a wide-ranging review of municipal finances in the nation’s most populous state because as they see it, there is a growing threat of municipal insolvency.  It is there contention that it expects more municipal bankruptcies and bond defaults.  Recently, Stockton, San Bernardino, Mammoth Lakes have filed and now the possibility of Compton in the coming month.  According to Moodys there will be more to come.  The fact that their are more bankruptcy filings and bond defaults among California cities reflects an increased risk to bondholders as investors.  These risk become the red flags which brings Moody’s focus of attention and an obligation to investors.  As bankruptcy becomes a tool for cashed strapped cities, this requires Moody’s to reassess the financial position of all cities in California.  Within a year the City of Riverside’s bond rating has decreased from an average of AAA rating  to AA /A rating.  Mind you this is still considered good, but the fact remains, it visually appears to be of concern.

                                                                             

     CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW INVESTOR INFO           CLICK LINK TO VIEW CITY’S BOND RATING EXPLANATION

A decrease in bond rating to the investment community is a statement that there has been an appreciable increase in risk.  Therefore, in many ways it is of concern, because a lower bond rating can mean the difference of getting a better percentage rate on borrowing, especially in times when municipalities are struggling due to lower tax revenue streams.  Even if it was a 0.5% increase, it would cost more money to borrow.  The other concern is “How will the debt be paid off?”  Considering the fact that there will be lower tax revenues on the horizon.

If you look at the example of the US, losing its prestine AAA rating down to a not so prestine AA rating, it really matters.  It is a very loud statement that there has been an appreciable increase in the risk – which might still be tiny, but it exists – that the US might one day struggle to pay back all it owes.  In theory there will be a financial cost for the US government and US citizens, whose debt is priced off the interest rate paid by the government.  Perhaps an additional half of a percentage point on interest rates.  According to US Bank JP Morgan, over time, this could amount to an additional $100 billion of interest costs for the US economy.

As a result investors are beginning to wonder if cities are using bankruptcy as tool for their debt?  It was noted that some municipalities were considering bankruptcy as a new strategy to address budget deficits and avoid obligations to bondholders.  This in essence would be disastrous to the investment community.

According to Chris McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities, also considered a lobbying entity for cities, said, “Moody’s has an obligation to review changing circumstances, but we just suggest that their assessment of the framework and ground activities is perhaps exaggerated”.   Of course if you’re a paid lobbying group for cities, what else would you say?

If you take the City of Riverside for example, and look at their monthly financials.  May for example, and compare ratings in 2011 to 2012.  One will find a downgrade from AAA to AA / A.  Don’t get me wrong it’s still a good rating, but why the downgrade?  Are we borrowing more? Are we incurring more debt?  According to the City of Riverside’s Office of Economic Development we are continuing to do well in lieu of distressed economy.

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW

But can this be due to the fact that the City of Riverside has a continous revenue stream from our utilities, and the utilities we own?  Would we consider this a false sense of security for current ratings if utilities were accessed or used inappropriately?

                                         

MONTHYL FINANCIALS MAY 2011                MONTHLY FINANCIAL MAY 2012

In Moody’s report, more than 10 percent of California cities have declared fiscal crises, with most troubled areas lying inland in the middle of the state and east of the Los Angeles area.  The report also noted the potential for ratings downgrades to cities, counties, school districts throughout the state.  I would imagine a downgrade as I indicated in the City of Riverside’s may be of concern and therefore a red flag of interest.  Important to note, since January 2012, the City of Riverside is now using IDC Financial Publishing, Inc. for their Certificate of Deposit ratings, instead of the “A” rating system.  It’s based on their unique CAMEL system.

OOPS! NOPE…NOT THIS FOLKS, BUT THIS…CLICK THIS LINK

According to them these Certificates of Deposit are rated “superior”, but really the banking institutions issuing these CD”s are rated ‘superior’.  I may consider these a bit deceptive by the City.   In other words, as opposed to rating the certificates of deposit, securities or investments by such institutions such as Moody’s, Fitch or Standar & Poors, IDC Publishing rates the institution or bank.  IDC Financial Publishing, Inc. explanation of their rating system is as follows.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW DOCUMENT

The Fitch rating system for banking institutes are explained on their site.

How did we get to the point of Cities filing for bankruptcy?  The state of the economy for one thing, uncontained government spending, unsustainable employee contracts, the loss of jobs, loss of industry, the cost of doing business.  No jobs paying their mortgage becomes an issue.  The loss of their homes.  Homes in terms of taxes don’t produce income for municipalities, in terms of property taxes, utility taxes; people don’t spend therefore less sales taxes.

One commenter on the Business Insider laid blame toward State Government, others have blamed foreign laborers, perhaps the truth of the matter that there is truth to both perspectives.

This has nothing to do with  foreign labor. It has to do with the abuse from government workers. Municipalities, counties and the State of California have made promises of  multi-million dollar pensions + benefits to its employees.  Partly because CA  lawmakers are in bed with the Unions or are too afraid of them. Either way, the  public sector union has forced the hand over the last 30 years and no one has  had the balls to say enough is enough. Almost 60 cents on the tax dollar  goes to pay for salaries + benefits + pensions. In any normal corporation, that  would have sent red flags to cut down on payroll expenses but not in the State  of CA. After all it’s other people’s money, right ?    -You reap what you sow, commenter on the Business Insider, August 17, 2012

UPDATE:08/25/2012:  IS CHUCK CONDER, ASSISTANT COUNCIL AIDE TO COUNCILMAN CHRIS MAC ARTHUR, THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S NEW JOE BIDEN?

Conder, an Airforce Veteran himself, responded to a City delegation headed in part by Councilman Paul Davis to explore a sister city relationship with Can Tho, Vietnam.  The Press Enterprise states it was unclear to whom Conder was referring to, but made the statement as a City Staff Member, “These socialist nuts”.  But of course, the obvious talk is about the people Vietnam.   Local Riversidian’s are just calling it another Biden moment for Chuck.  Councilman Chris Mac Arthur was quick to bring damage control to the situation by stating, “I think Chuck was speaking as a veteran to other veterans, certainly not in his role as a legislative field representative”.  The question is, was he on City payroll during the time in question.  Regardless, he is a public person and anything he does or says would over shadow the defense of being a private person.

Councilman Paul Davis responded to the comments as “completely innappropriate”.

Conder has had his behavior questioned over the year.  One was when he was canvassing his neigborhood in Councilman Paul Davis’s Ward 4 on a redistricting issue.  The rumour was that he wanted to remain in neighborhood to run against Davis in the next election.  Another incident was allegedly a physical altercation at City Hall.  Other’s have witnessed Conder referring to  women who spoke publicly at City Council as “idiots” and “bitches”.    Councilman Chris Mac Arthur certainly knew of this Biden moment.  Back in July 27, 2010 Chuck commented regarding the vendetta the Press Enterprise had against City Hall,  and the office of City Manager Brad Hudson.  We are all aware of the what the cost of his legacy will have on the taxpayer in the coming years.  The following is a small excerpt into the mind of Councilman Chris Mac Arthur’s Administrative Aide Chuck Conder.

Stop blasting city brass

The Press-Enterprise’s vendetta targeting Riverside City Hall, and especially the city manager’s office, has become an embarrassment to the newspaper and the city’s good name (“City manager up for review,” July 27). It is time for this to stop.

Have mistakes been made? Probably. Were corrective actions taken? Absolutely!

City Manager Brad Hudson and the city’s leadership team are doing a magnificent job leading Riverside through tough, nearly unprecedented, economic times. Our city is building and growing while maintaining a balanced budget and healthy financial reserve. Celebrate — don’t desecrate — their remarkable accomplishments.

Charles E. Conder III

08/25/2012: ONE DOG SHOT DEAD, ONE MURDERER WHO GOT AWAY..  CONFLICTING STORIES FROM RPD REGARDING THE KILLING OF A FAMILIES PET DOG.

According to Sharon Gonzales an officer told them that the dog was shot through a gate because officers needed to get into the yard to access a suspects house.  Well, ok… Whereby, Lt. Toussaint stated that the officer was actually in the backyard, and shot the charging dog to protect himself.   This is not the first time pets were shot dead by RPD, residents are asking the question, if a police officer needs to access homeowners yards our we to expect more of the same toward our pets?  A sort of mercy killing for the greater good?  What if there are small children in the back yard?  Regardless, a multitude of comments transpired on this topic in the Press Enterprise.  Currently no response from Chief Sergio Diaz, but as in the Bailey Laptop Caper, we are sure he is on it!

I’M ON IT, AGAIN! AFTER THIS ONE DRUMSTICK..

UPDATE:08/28/2012: MORE INVASIONS OF PRIVACY EXPECTED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE.  According to Councilman Mike Gardner, on the City’s New Neighborhood Networking site, the City of Riverside has contracted with the Department of Animal Services to canvass neighborhoods, going door to door, investigating if residents are harboring unlicensed dogs or cats.  Gardner states that the vast majority of vicious and aggressive dog calls that occure in the City are for unlicensed and unaltered dogs.  Therefore, I would suspect that once they are licensed, that behavior should cease.  Questions? Call Coucilman Mike Gardner’s office  951-826-5242. 

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LETTER

UPDATE: 08/29/2012: CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY: FORMER CITY OF RIVERSIDE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY RAYCHELLE STERLING STATED THAT NBC HAS ACCEPTED TO DO A SERIES OF STORIES OF THE CONTAMINATED PCB SITE AG (AGRICULTURAL) PARK REGARDING THE FALSE INFORMATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE CITY TO SUCH DEPARTMENT AS THE EPA, AND THE CITY’S USE OF NON PROTECTED EMPLOYEES TO CLEAN THIS SITE.. MORE TO COME!

JUST FOR LAUGHS…

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN…THE PEACE TOWER, MT. RUIDOUX, CIRCA 1935

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.  PROUDLY RATED ONE STAR (POSSIBLY DOWN TO ZERO FROM OUR LAST ACCOUNTS) 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 FOR GOOD REASON, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST, FOR GOOD REASON… 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 SPHALL SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR CONTACT US BY THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS! CONTRIBUTORS WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED… YES, WE EXPECT THE JAIL TIME FOR THAT ONE…  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

TMC HERO OF THE MONTH: WE SALUTE CITY OF BELL POLICE SERGEANT JAMES CORCORAN

Posted: August 20, 2012 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , ,
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Normally, TMC would post each month someone who took great risk to do the right thing.  Doing the right thing shouldn’t have to be a risk.  But I hope this story gives courage to those employees and officers of the law who work hard to do the right thing for the citizens of Riverside.  Sergeant James Corcoron served as a Bell officer for 19 years.  Corcoran said that then Bell Chief of Police Randy Adams was angered when he went to him with allegations of voter fraud, unlawful vehicle seizures and illegal selling of building permits.

At one point the Chief wanted to know if Corcoran had taken his information to the FBI.  The truth of the matter is that Corcoran already did.  Corcoran stated that instead of the Chief investigating, he retaliated against him.  In 2009, Corcoran said that he and two other officers went to the District Attorney’s Office to try to persuade the office to investigate city officials.  And we certainly know how this goes in Riverside with our District Attorney, sound familiar?  We had a similar experience when we dealt with our District Attorney here in Riverside, and we wrote about this in our posting of the “Triangle of Influence”.  The Chief placed Corcoran on administrative leave in January 2010, that was a striking similar situation which occurred recently in the PU department with five employees.  We think because of the AG Park investigation with the EPA.

To Sergeant James Corcoran we wish you the best and hope more will follow your example of integrity.  Chief Adams was eventially removed from office after the L.A. Times expose revealed enormous salaries that top officials in the City of Bell were earning (well excuse the pun of the term earning).  Eight former City of Bell leaders were arrested on corruption charges, the chief was not.  Four council members, City Manager, Assistant City Manager.  For people who don’t think the Mayor’s office is signifant or does not have any decision making power…..well,  the Mayor and the Vice Mayor were also arrested on corruption charges.  Something for our Riverside City Council to ponder.

We are happy to say that Sergeant James Corcoran will receive his job back as patrolman once there is a opening position.  Food for thought, US District Judge Dickran Tevrizian, said the City of Bell could have lost in excess of $3 million if the case had gone to trial, due to Corcoran’s whistleblower lawsuit for reporting city corruption.  But instead decided to recieve $400,000.00 and reinstatement to the force.  Again, something for our Riverside City Council and the Mayor for some of the outragious settlements and judgements that are a actual cost to the taxpayer, thanks again to the exceptional legal advice of our City Attorney Gregory Priamos.

Since then, Chief Randy Adams filed two law suits against the City of Bell and former Interum City Manager Pedro Carrillo regarding issues of severance pay.   Interum City Manager Pedro Carillo is seen here with State Controller John Chiang.

UPDATE: 08/22/2012: SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE JOHN VINEYARD SAYS CITY OF RIVERSIDE CAN’T BAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINICS!

Commenter on the PE, Daniel Kippycash · Riverside, California So let me understand some SIMPLE facts. The voters of CA approved MMJ sales in the state. The state set up criteria for these businesses to operate and run. So the city elected officials have taken it on their own, against the voters decision, to BAN tax paying business and employers within the city. A city with millions of square feet of empty commercial real estate! NOW they are spending millions to try and defend their actions, try and alter the voter approved rights when they can’t even keep services open and other key people employed due to budget issues. City Businesses = LOSS. Police Expense to City= LOSS. Legal Expense to City = LOSS. Real Estate Owners = LOSS. Tax Revenue to City & State = LOSS. Utility gains for Riverside= LOSS. Corporate Insurance = LOSS. Added Unemployment = LOSS. True Patient Safe Access = LOSS…. Police Unions = GAIN. Legal Representation = GAIN. Court Costs = GAIN. DRUG CARTEL INCREASED BUSINESS = GAIN. People in this world the one thing that CAN NOT be wrong are numbers! Who is advising the city council? POLICE UNIONS and LEGAL FIRMS. Hummmmm interesting isn’t it? BUT Has the Press Enterprise or anybody in the press ever asked them why they have not sat down with the MMJ Community to work TOGETHER to find a plan that all can operate under together? NO NO NO. Come on it doesn’t matter what side of this issue you sit on. If the voters approved a measure then how do you explain the city and police acting outside the LAW? If the people really had the facts in front of them about what is being done they would be sick. What is even worse is that the press is NOT doing any true journalism on this topic. Sound bites, police lies about the situation and in the end it all adds up to only a few receiving any benefits from these efforts…….POLICE UNIONS, PRISON UNIONS and LAW FIRMS! Follow the money people. Speak out.

Yes it’s not a perfect world, unfortunately, Federal law supersedes State law, State law conflicts with Federal law, which mean local municipalities can call upon the Federal Goverment to enforce the illegality of Marijuana.  According to the Federal Government, marijuana is considered a ‘Class One Drug’, no medical use..  In the State of California, Marijuana use is legal with restrictions, but remember still ‘illegal’ under Federal Law, therefore one can be arrested for illegal use and sale of marijuana according to Federal Laws. Even back in 2006 the adoption of a zoning law to prohibit the establishment of Riverside County came into play.  There certainly would be a shift in the money paradigm if marijuana was made legal by the Federal Government.  We certainly have documented evidence of this with alcohol prohibition in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW DOCUMENT

UPDATE: 09/07/2012: REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PAUL RYAN STATES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULDN’T INTERFERE WITH STATES, SUCH AS CALIFORNIA, THAT HAVE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA!

JUST FOR LAUGHS..

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN..

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.  PROUDLY RATED ONE STAR (POSSIBLY DOWN TO ZERO FROM OUR LAST ACCOUNTS) 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 FOR GOOD REASON, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST, FOR GOOD REASON… 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 SPHALL SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR CONTACT US BY THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS! CONTRIBUTORS WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED… YES, WE EXPECT THE JAIL TIME FOR THAT ONE…  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: REDISTRICTING: DIVYING UP THE PROFITS OF PROSPECTS…

Posted: August 16, 2012 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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Redistricting is the process of drawing new electoral district boundaries in order to equalize district populations, and that’s that.  It’s not about business preferences or to insure a candidates political election.  The overall purpose of redistricting is to review districts and where necessary redraw districts in order to address any changes in population concentration.  Anything other than this would be considered gerrymandering.  Gerrymandering, of course, would the act of that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan or incumbent-protected districts.  Gerrymandering may also be used to hinder a particular demographic, such as a political, racial, linguistic, religious, or class group.  A considerable amount to consider.Unfortunately, the grey lines of redistricting interpretation has escalated into a cornucopia of questionable delineations when it comes to the final district maps.  Some of the Principle Rules of Redistricting are as follows:

1. Compactness-districts shall be drawn to encourage geographical compactness such that nearby areas of population are not bypassed for more distant population.

2. Contiguity-The geographic integrity of any city, county, city and county, local neighborhood, or local community of interest shall be respected.

3. Community Interest-A community of interest is a contiguous population which shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation.

4. Protection of Incumbents and Achieving Political Goals- The place of residence of any incumbent or political candidate shall not be considered in the creation of a map. Districts shall not be drawn for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party.

One such incident of questionable activity came up when legislative aide to Ward 5 Councilman Chris Mac Arthur, Chuck Conder questioned the possible move of his residence from Ward 4, represented by Councilman Paul Davis.

Has Mr. Conder been on a mission canvassing neighborhoods, allegedly in what some are saying ‘gerrymandering mode’ in hopes to swing a district to their benefit in the next council election?  But Mr. Conder was the same person who allegedly was involved in an altercation at city hall, to take it a step further, has blatantly called City Council Public Speakers ‘idiots’, ‘ bitches’ and even taken photographs for record purposes.  I suppose for Councilman Chris Mac Arthur’s reference file.  One would think that this would be enough for firing.  Nope, this is Riverside, we are old school, and some political families are deep rooted in more ways than one, a way that some say is responsible for how the City is currently runned.

But nothing surprises me these day when you view Moreno Valley School Board Member Mike Rios, (incidently who would want this person around or representing your children? But evidently they keep voting for him!).  This is one man who has been charged with attempted murder, pandering, rape and pimping of underage girls, a wife who has been deported for illegally being in the country and drug transporting.…a great resume and now running for City Council of Moreno Valley, which I just believe did not make the application deadline.  Should we call it sociopathic behavior?

What constitutes a resume for a position as City Council these day’s?  Would it be the same that constitutes a resume for City Council in the City of Riverside?  Could we say it would be much more than a ‘housekeeping’ background?   I would imagine one should at least be able to read the city’s financial books as a start.  But changing the page, how about those who have taken the oath of office to complete the office that they campaigned for, then inadvertently decide to change course to pursue another political office?  Councilman Andy Melendrez, William “Rusty” Bailey and Mike Gardner, decided to run for Mayor without completing their obligatory oath to represent the constituents that they asked to elect them.  Councilman Mike Gardner on record states at a City Council debate at Cal Baptist University in 2011,  that he has “no intention to run for Mayor”.  Soon as he wins the election for Ward 1 City Council, he decides to run.  The same with William “ Rusty” Bailey, who on the eve of his reelection wining decides he may also just run for mayor.  Is there something in Riverside water, besides hexavalent chromium that is causing these indecisive brain damaging responses from local leadership?

As you can see, Chuck Conder’s residence is in Ward 4, which is actually in the pink in color (according to the map)  because it reflects Councilman’s Paul Davis’s area, and is currently in the Canyon Crest neighborhood of which is in question.   The recommendation is that residential portion be shifted to Ward 2.  Conder said Thursday that he and a neighbor circulated a petition, which he created after hearing Ward 2 Councilman Andy Melendrez’s impassioned plea not to split the Eastside.  “When Andy talked about (how) contiguous neighborhoods should be respected and you ought to keep neighborhoods together and not split them, that’s what was going to happen to us,”  neigborhood Conder said.  Well it wasn’t really going to happen that way.  First, if you look at where Chuck resides, we just called it Chuckie Land for the point of argument.

Keep in mind Chuckie’s neighborhood lines (the broad red lines) are made up of Ward 4, Ward 3 and Ward 2 residences.  Even if one wanted to change Chuck’s residence to Ward 3, it would still remain within the boundaries of the neighborhood lines (large red lines), therefore not breaching the contiguous argument he attempted to make.  The ward boundary line is indicated by the dark blue line on the map.  Therefore the question of why the petition, as many are asking?  Not to make this more confusing, Chuck Conder currently resides in Councilman Paul Davis’s Ward 4.  The rumour is he wants to stay in Ward 4 so he can run against current Councilman Paul Davis in the 2013 election.  Chuckie currently stated on record he has no plans to run against current Councilman Paul Davis in the next election.  So why the effort?  Can we assume that their is some underlying agenda?  We’ve heard in the past the those in politics may somtimes portray a position of having no underlying meaning, but why do it?  Is their a concealed agenda for Adkison’s , Bailey’s , Melendrez and Gardner’s efforts to pursue the Mayor’s seat?  All have been Councilman, and all want to be Mayor…and the later three have discount their obligation to the constituents to fulfill their electoral term.

But is it also possible for those in City Council to negotiate amongst themselves pieces of their district within closed doors to insure their reelection?  Is it also possible for someone to canvass district neighborhoods for signatures in order to play musical chairs with district neighborhoods in order to allegedly benefit themselves and possibly a political agenda in the next council election?  Or a letter from the Greater Riverside Chamber President, Cindy Roth, to recommend the move of one area of Ward 2 to Ward 1?

I don’t know what really happened to decency in government, or if it ever existed, but what about our fourth branch of government?  I always thought the responsible party would be our local paper, the Press Enterprise, so why does this publication feel the need to confine opinion in the way that it does?  Opionion good or bad molds peoples opinions.  People should not have to be protected by opionion, people can certainly be the judge of that.  Relevant stories regarding the City don’t always seem to make to print.  Is it because, maybe they are so tied with the city that a true investigative story of relevance may never come to fruition.  Is it possible such non print occurrences may be due to accepting special electrical rates with the City?

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW PRESS ENTERPRISE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.

Would this then obligate the PE to turn some stories down?  But in the politically correct world we live in, it must seemingly be acceptable.  There was a time when part of our checks and balances in government was the press.  The presss was considered the fourth part of government, notwithstanding the judicial, executive and legislative, something went a rye when one piece failed to step up to the plate of protecting the taxpaying people.

Let’s also remember the City of Riverside owns it’s Public Utilities, and electricity can be purchased from next to nothing, allowing the City to make astronomical profits.

-THE BAILEY LAPTOP CAPER-

As Joe Friday would say “Only the facts”.  The facts are, quite confusing… We have a teenager with an attitude, no back up (not muscle, but computer lingo for data protection),  a dog that is a barker not a biter (I’m a lover not a fighter scenario) but still allowed the intruder to breach the premises, home was not ransacked, there was the feeling of being violated (which I can understand), no crystal or china was taken (did anyone care about this when they were a teenager?), emotionally disturbing face book postings (I assume nothing was password protected).  A confrontation with the hacker online, and in this virtual world a chase ensued, eventually pressing him to leave this synthetic social playground.

JUST THE FACTS!

Neighbors saw the teen casing homes but did nothing, except for one individual who confronted him, and his response was, “I’m now going to lunch”.   But according to the PE, Chief Diaz is on it, couldn’t comment on it due the ongoing investigation.

I’M ON IT..

Months back, Diaz was praised on his work on the apprehension of the fifty cent bandit, as we have posted on TMC.  A perplexing set of circumstances,  eventually leading to questions such as why did this individual actually spent the time to go on to his facebook site to post embarrising comments which were by all standards “juvenile”, (which I would and could not expect anything less from a teen).  Did this teen know Councilman Bailey?  Could he have been a former or current student of his??

No password, that was easy…Facebook, who is this guy? Let’s have some fun..

Many questions abound in this perplexing enigma, but thank god for the chief to hopefully bust this caper wide open.  And it appears they did.  Again the story reported by the PE still appears missing pieces of puzzle to make this story whole.  The Press Enterprise states police was investigating an unrelated burgalary, when they happened to visit this teen’s home and spoke to the guardian.  Shortly after, the guardian and teen met with detectives and surrendered the property.  Now it appears to me that quite possible Bailey knew the teen, and/or the teen knew Bailey.  In the real world this doesn’t happen.  I’ve had property stolen as well as other residents in our neighborhood, and RPD response to the property stolen, is that it may never be retrieved or found.  Needless to say, the laptop and all the other stolen items were found, good for Bailey.  Other suggestions from emails to help Bailey,  were using and online back up system such as Carbonite,  to protect against stolen or lost lap top computers Lo Jack for Lap tops is recommended.  Once a computer is turned by a robbery suspect, the laptop can be located within hours.  Then simply a home alarm system.

This goes to reason, as police are not always at our disposal, as one wood street retired police officer had stated, RPD is not always responsive.  This was one resident who walks his dog, and was accosted by three individuals on Ramona.  Which he was able to hold back with the use of pepper spray.  Now he walks his dog armed.  He was asked, If residents should learn how to use arms for protection, his answer was yes.  As trying times continue people will become more desperate, and individuals will need to be able to protect their properties and most importantly their families.  Local gun classes and pepper spray classes can be found by calling any gun store.  Until then, we can only wait to hear a response from the Chief himself on this laptop caper, which it appears their was a break in the story.  A great surprise for residents who never receive this quick of a response from RPD.  Regardless, as many residents agree, quite a bit of hoop la of stories for a lap top by PE, where other stories of importance are only mired into the depths and darkness below the camouflage of political quicksand.

Well, the culprit was arrested in this lap top caper.  Officer Manning said police were investigating an unrelated burglary when they visited the teenager’s home (I would imagine inadvertainly) and spoke with his guardian. Shortly after that, the guardian and the juvenile, who is 17, “met with detectives and surrendered property taken in the burglary at Councilman Bailey’s house.  The juvenile admitted participation in the burglary,” Officer Manning said.  Police believe the teenager is involved with at least half a dozen other burglaries. Manning said they assume others are involved because of the types of items that were taken. Manning said the teen has no prior criminal record, but he declined to release any identifying details because of the suspect’s age.  Bailey could not immediately be reached for comment (Well alrighty now).  A neighbor told Bailey he had seen a male teenager peering into homes, apparently casing them, but it’s not yet known whether that was the same person police arrested.  Whatever the vague cirmcumstances, we are glad Bailey has retrieved his famed lap top.  We only hope that he would now fight so that this type of efficient police work can be attained by all citizens.  In the East Side, currently RPD is still seeking clues to the June 30th murder of Ashanti Hassan and the January 26th murder of Gregory Ball.

-UNION MAYHEM IN SAN BERNARDINO: NOW THE MAYOR’S FAULT?-

It’s hard not bring up the blame of government officials without bringing up the unions.  This is of course not a one sided issue.  Public/Government Officials and Unions who negotiated unsustainable pension plans as well as salaries.  Executive Government Officials who had City Council give their blessing for their high salaries and pension, beyond the standard of the private sector.  There are two aspects here to consider.

It appears the Mayor is already being shaked down in a intimidation tactic to vote a certain way.  This would not happen if people In the communities would educate themselves in city politics and attend city council meetings and voice their opinion, otherwise what you get is out side organizations which may not have the community’s best interest at heart, because what is at stake is their interest which may be union emphasized.  Government should be representative of the people, not those who’s interest lies within a particular group or organization of a few.  This in essence can only breach the health and safety of the community as a whole.  As a whole the community must pay for it in higher taxes.  And that is would substantiate a breach of public trust by those who took an oath to protect and represent their constituents, rather than their obligations to their contributors.   Well, this will continue to become and ongoing conundrum brought to the forefront of many municipalities.  More cities in the next few years will file for bankruptcy, Compton, CA may be next..with many more to follow.  Salaries and pensions that go beyond what is found by the standard of the private sector, cannot be legitimately justified. In the private sector salaries are based on the value or service produced, in public service, nothing is produced.  Salaries are simply justified based on taxpayer monies available in some sort of revenue stream that ends up becoming some sort of illusion of value.  Unsustainable pensions: many feel these union pension contracts were negotiated not in the best interest of the taxpayer.  Therefore a breach of trust and consequently should legally be deemed null and void.

-HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM IN RIVERSIDE, ARE WE THIRD UP ON THE LIST?-

Alark Hard Chrome was a chrome plating shop in the 1970’s located at 2777 Main Street.  Soil and groundwater at this sit were contaminated with chromium as a result of spills, discharges and drips of plating solutions on the premises.

This site was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL), commonly called the Superfund Site here in Riverside.  Even though there are many hot spots of contamination in and around Riverside, the EPA has set their sights on this one and continue to monitor levels of Chromium-6 also known as Hexavalent Chromium, a known carcinogen when found in drinking water.  Hexavalent Chromium was made famous in the Erin Brockovich movie of ground water contamination in Hinkely, CA.  All of the City of Riverside’s water come from ground water wells.  The Environmental Protection Agency will continue to monitor the Alark site, ground zero for the known dumping of this contaminate.  The EPA will continue to follow it’s path, or technically it’s plume, to known drinking wells.  The City of Riverside has said that our water is safe.

Our understanding of regulatory guidelines is that neither the State of Federal Government limit Hexavalent Chromium in water, but both regulate total chromium instead.  The Federal Government has a cap of 100 ug/L (100 parts per billion) for total chromium and the State of California limits total chromium in drinking water to 50 ug/L (50 part per billion).  In 2001, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) conducted ground water samplings.  In one well (MW-7), the ground water sample contained 17,300 ug/L (17,300 parts per billion) hexavalent chromium exceeding the States maximum acceptable level of 50 ug/L (50 parts per billion).  As we understand, there are new methods to detect specifically the carcinogenic Chromium-6 (Hexavalent Chromium) in ground water.

The question which has not been quite answered, is has the plume hit the drinking water aquafiers to the extent of concerned levels?  According to Riverside Public Utilites water quality report of 2011, hexavalent chromium ranged from 1.9 parts per billion to 2.7 parts per billion, all in acceptable levels for drinking water.  So how much Hexavalent Chromium is necessary for someone to come down with cancer?  At this time the answer is unknown.  The EWG (Environmental Working Group), initiated by Erin Brockovich, is now pushing to reduce California’s hexavalent chromium limit down to 0.06 parts per billion.  In this scenario, making a case of levels of hexavalent chromium contaminant in water in relation to cases of related cancer, won’t be necessary.  Therefore, if she is successful, Los Angeles, San Jose, Sacramento and Riverside would be targets of her litigation team.  If the State levels of hexavalent chromium were to drop to 0.06 part per billion, the City of Riverside would be third on the list on the top five chromium contaminated cities.

THE ALARK SITE (FIRST TWO PICS), AND ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN, THE NEW FAIRLY NEW DEVELOPMENT CLOSE TO ALARK ON TWOGOOD LANE (THIRD PIC).

         

-COUNCIL INTERFERENCE ON THE PROMOTION PROCESS? 35-0..SGT. VALMONT GRAHAM CALLS FOUL!

On one hand, Riverside Chief of Police Sergio Diaz states that his promotion decisions are not guided by racial bias, and he wants to dispel the image that the city “is a soft touch” for disgruntled employees by litigating their suits.  Even though the Chief refrained directly about this case, he certainly appears to infer that those bringing up these issues of discrimination are disgruntled employees.  Sgt. Valmont Graham has served the citizens of the City of Riverside for an outstanding 25 years.  Allegedly, Sgt. Valmont Graham has been passed over 35 times during his employment with the City.  It would personally be an insult to refer an officer of the law, of this caliber,(of course I’m not talking about the illegal gun sale to the former City Manager Brad Hudson by the President of the RPD Union),  as a ‘disgruntled employee’.  So why the pattern of retaliation?  Now keep in mind that the Chief was hired by former City Manager Brad Hudson, who left town in whisk to take a lower paying job for the County of Sacramento when his discretionary spending came into question.  But it’s no secret, retaliation has costed the taxpayer a mint in legal fees, and further the settlement via a court judgement.  Sgt. Valmont Graham’s original complaint is as follows:

COMPLAINT OF 07-19-2011

TMC wrote a story, City of Riverside See’s Skin Color as Problematic?  The Press Enterprise story that Sgt. Valmont Graham was passed over for promotion because he was “black”.  A highly respected black judge, Jaqueline Jackson was assigned to hear this case, but was then asked by Richard D. Roth, contract attorney for the City of Riverside, to be removed.  As an attorney, how effective will he be in defense of the City, when more than likely he will settle this case out of court.  Roth is also running for California State Senate and is endorse by those in the City such as Mayor Ron Loveridge.  By the way Mr. Roth’s wife, Cindy Roth, is President of the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce, also supported and financed to promote certain City events such as the “Festival of Lights”.

The question that seems to be returning to the forefront is, “are Council interfereing with the Police promotion process?”  Back in May 2011, Councilman Steve Adams, also a former police officer, was brought to the forefront with allegations that he interefered with the promotion process of police officers, specifically Lts. Darryl Hurt and Tim Bacon.  Even then, Adams emphatically denied any interference, though the taxpayer shelled out $550,000 to settle the case out of court.  Well, all I could say, if we shelled out that amount of green backs, the two officers must have had a good case.  It certainly appears to be a repeating pattern of this allegation of intereference with Adams, comes complete with a corresponding pattern of denial as well.  Was it a corruptible surprise that a ‘special panel’ found no ethics violations by Adams?  Even Retired Deputy Chief Pete Esquievel came to the rescue of Adams by telling the panel that he made it clear to the two officers that it was not a condition of the officers promotion. But approximately a year before, Esquievel came forward with a complaint against the police department in other matters as you will find in this tort claim.  This tort claim also followed Police Officer Neely Nakamura’s complaints against the Riverside Police Department in her tort claim.  The distrubing claim by Nakamura against the Riverside Police Department was that she was illegall held, seized and searched, kidnapped and held without reason, do in part to her alleged sexual relationship with Deputy Chief Pete Esquievel.

                                                                  

CLICK LINK TO VIEW ESQUIEVEL DOCUMENT             CLICK LINK TO VIEW NAKMURA DOCUMENT

In the case of Lt. Meredyth Meredith, the then Chief Russell Leach said he was preparing to promote her to captain.  Then Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis called Leach to put a stop to this.  Leach found out later that Adams marched into a meeting with then City Manager Hudsion and DeSantis, and emphatically told them she should not be promoted.  Of course, you guessed it, that was denied by Adams again.  By the terms of the City Charter, members of the City Council are not supposed to be involved in the promotional process.  Therefore, a violation of the City Charter would tell us that this would be job for the District Attorney.  Well, we all know that will never be investigated, and if it is the complaint would be unfounded.

    

According to a deposition release by City Attorney Gregory Priamos of former Chief of Police Russell Leach, he states that complaints made by current Councilman and Mayoral Candidate William “Rusty” Bailey may have hindered Valmont Graham from being promoted.  In addition, we find it interesting that a deposition of an ongoing case is released by our City Attorney.  Was there some in fighting between Priamos and Bailey?  According to then Assistant Manager Tom DeSantis, Bailey was embarassed or sleighted by what Graham had said, and was furious to the point of expressing his anger to city management.  Did Bailey’s act hinder the well deserved promotion of this black officer?  Others mentioned that at the meeting Graham talked about police issues and answered questions from the audience.  One question was not a police related, but Graham felt it was more in line of a Council question.  He then handed the mike over to Bailey to answer.  Was Bailey taken off guard because of the question, maybe he could not answer?  In any case it appears he was embarrassed, then furious, not sure in what order.  Then the focus was on Sgt. Valmont Graham.  Was this simply a misunderstanding?  A misunderstanding which has cost a vast amount of taxpayer monies and resources?

If there was some words of advice, what would Sergeant Joe Friday say to Councilman Steve Adam’s?CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW CLIP

JUST FOR LAUGHS….

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTENRIVERSIDE PLAZA 1960’s, RIVERSIDE, CA

         

THE ALFRED M. LEWIS GROCERY STORE, RIVERSIDE, CA, SEPTEMBER 18, 1940, ON 10TH AND MAIN. (COURTESY OF THE UC RIVERSIDE, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES).

CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, THE PRIAMOS TAPE, COMING SOON..

UPDATE: 0818/2012: CITY ATTORNEY GREGORY PRIMOS BARS MISSION AMBULANCE LAWYER FROM LOBBYING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CHANGE THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S AMBULANCE POLICY.  THIS IS ONE CITY OFFICE THAT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME..  WHAT?  DON’T TELL ME…AMR’S PETER HUBBARD AND GREGORY PRIMOS ARE ALLEGEDLY GOOD FRIENDS?  I WOULD NEVE HAVE SEEN THAT COMING..

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.  PROUDLY RATED ONE STAR (POSSIBLY DOWN TO ZERO FROM OUR LAST ACCOUNTS) 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 FOR GOOD REASON, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST, FOR GOOD REASON… 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 SPHALL SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR CONTACT US BY THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS! CONTRIBUTORS WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED… YES, WE EXPECT THE JAIL TIME FOR THAT ONE…  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM 

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: THE ISSUE OF REDISTRICTING: CHESS GAME, SLAMDUNK OR LANDGRAB?

Posted: July 24, 2012 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
8

NO PROPERTY SHOULD BENEFIT, AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS..

Last weeks lively debate in one instant went as follows.

I believe that’s the way it needs to be handled again, Councilman Melendrez said.  It should be referred to Governmental Affairs, that three council members should participate plus the community.  Gardner is not part of the Governmental Affairs but I would invite him to participate.. and be an active participant.

After Melendrez stated his position he received a standing ovation…TMC believes that if Counilman Melendrez had shown this type of leadership before, he could have been in the Mayor’s runoff, now the constituents have no choice.

OTHER COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS…

Mayor Ron: I must repeat that the need for Conflict resolution is best done as a committee as a whole.

Councilman Melendrez:  Mayor, it didn’t work the last time, that’s why I am here.

Councilman Davis:  I have to openly admit that it was a mistake!   It’s about process, and the process was not followed properly.  This is not about businesses but about residential desires. You look at the business desires compared to the residential desires. It’s hard to weigh.  In this case it’s about the residential desires.  I would like to make a motion, I respectfully disagree with you Mayor.  Things are not done the same way they were 20 to 30 years ago (making these comment toward the mayor) things are done differently, we are wired in a wireless world and we need to respect that…that we move forward, rather than do things the old way, because a lot of the times they just don’t work anymore.  If the Governmental Committee would allow a substitution of Councilman Gardner.  That would be my motion that we take no action and postpone 60 days..and I hoping to see a second ( a motion which Melendrez solidifies later, but the Mayor thinks it already happened).

It should be vetted between Gardner (Ward 1) and Melendrez (Ward 2).  The rest of us five have no dog in the show here.  This is about ward 1 and ward 2 they should get together.  In other words  it’s about Melendrez and Gardner.

Davis offered stepping down from his Governmental Affairs position and allowing Ward 1 Mike Gardner to take his position in order that he can work with Melendrez at that level.  We need to see what the residents would like to see, and taking into consideration the businesses as well.  Taking the item 20 to the full council for a vote.  Basically the two can come back with their findings and bring them to council so that council can make a better decision.

Councilman Gardner: This has been a much bigger issue than I thought it was. And for that I apologize..  There were things here that I did not see.  I thought this would be relatively simple ( the issue of redistricting) and relatively not controversial.   There were things here that I did not see, but incidently agrees with the mayor about dealing it as a whole…and…and…and..(continues to ramble).. an interruption by Councilman Melendrez while Gardner speaks and Melendrez says,  I will second Pauls motion..Mayor replies..I thought you did, but Melendrez actually did not.

Gardner says he wouldn’t offer a second but proposes to put this off for 60days..council to hold more meetings to talk…I think the community has spoken in more than one way.

Councilman Melendrez: Remember I’m a member of the Downtown Partnership, a committee member, the downtown partnership said they had it in the works since 2002, They didn’t invite the councilman member until 2010.. I’m also a member of the Chamber Commerce, and get along with both the downtown partnership and the chamber, and supportive of the chamber,  except when I think they are inaccurate.  I think redistricting is here about community, not business.   I strongly believe that.  And when I look at what we as council, here to propose.   We have ten items listed,  I’m going to read four of them.  We have ten items listed, I’m going to read four.  Maintain Continutiy of existing wards to the extent possible, draw wards that are compact and continuous , use natural geographical boundaries to the extent possible, maintain cohesive neighborhood and community interest to the extent possible.   I went through all ten and it said nothing about business.  There is nothing here that says listen to what businesses have to say and route business around them.. So TMC ask,  how does Cindy Roth by pass these guidelines and convince the Council to break them?

TMC’s research came up with a interesting article on redistricting and a little know term called “gerrymandering”.  The article is called, Redistricting Now, Analysis of Ways to Prevent Gerrymandering.  But a question to ponder, is ‘gerrymandering’ actually occurring in the City Riverside?  Gerrymandering is a process and practice that attempts to establish a poltical advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundries to create partisan or incumbent protected districts.  Another reference point would be Article 21 of the California State Constitution regarding Redistricting.

Also the following talks about the masterplan for the Riverside Market Place, never mentions the East Side, talks about the area as being the Downtown Market Place.

It’s always good to hear from Councilman Adams. When he talks to the people..I want to thank everybody here to night, it’s a great demonstration of democracy.   I work for the people of ward 7, and looking toward the crowd..says ”you are our bosses”.   he went on to say…and this is why Riverside is the greatest city in the state.  Finally and emphatically said..  I started to think, is this one of those “say what you mean and mean what you say moment”?

Brian Hawley, Vice Chair of the Greater Riverside Chamber.  The chamber represents the interest of its members, this includes of several members in the Market Place who pay dues as if they already were. We believe a unified downtown benefits the entire city.

Self Appointed Citizen Auditor, Vivian Moreno:  As I looked at redistricting, I went and read the information on your web site and the first thing that popped out to me was ‘equalizing the population count for each ward’.  How do you get into a controversy over a business division line out of that statement? What a waste of time.  I stand before some intelligent people, I’m sure, and I  don’t understand the difference between population and business?  This vote should have been a “slam dunk”, and for what purpose are we here?  Synergy for business?  Thats what you all said last week.  What happens to synergy for the people?  That’s your argument

Just because the chamber queen comes before you with her letter in hand, and her lovely little speech, you change the direction and the ultimate purpose of redistricting.  Really? Let’s just change ward one into Cindy Land.  Andy Melendrez made a good argument that the Arlington Business District is in two wards.  So your argument about making it one program, doesn’t fly.   The actual natural boundaries is the freeway (91 freeway) , not the railroad tracks Councilman Gardner… Just because the Downtown area is not very successful and their business district is (Market Place), you want to take it over.  Insignificant?  Well if it is so insignificant, than why are we doing it?

David Mudge said we market our offices and area as if it is Downtown.  Leasing office space in Downtown is doing extremely well for us.  If I marketed office space to someone in Orange County, as it was not Downtown, it wouldn’t get much attraction. One of the big attractions is feeling that they are downtown.

Tom Schultz said, one of Webster’s definitions of ‘rape’ is an outrageous violation.  I consider this a rape of the East Side by the Chamber of Commerce.

Item #7:  In 2003 the City issues a series of COP’s (Certificates Of Participation) bonds to fund a succession of municipal projects.  In doing so the central piece of city government was placed as collateral, City Hall, along with the new Lincoln Avenue Police Station, The Airport Fire station, Parking Garages 1,2 and 3 and some land known as The Corporation Yard.

         

It also appears that The Convention Center, The Downtown Library and some land called The Airport Clear Zone were also released from the 2003 COP’s when financing was being assembled for the new Convention Center.

         

In the new transaction, the financing involved will still require the property known as Riverside City Hall and the new Lincoln Avenue Police Station to remain as collateral.  As TMC understands public buildings used as collateral, the structure is not what is considered, it is the value of the land.  This is item #7 being brought to City Council this Tuesday July 24, 2012, Be There!  Don’t forget to comment on our blog site.

    

Item #13, another $100,000.00 to Entrepreneurial Hospitality Corporation (EHC) to include a New Riverside Sport Commission for Public Relations and Advertising within the Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau?  And who are they?  Opps, related to The Mission Inn’s only Duane Roberts?  In these trying economic times, do we really need to spend money we don’t have?  What about our City bill board which struts above the 91 freeway?  Have we forgotten to be innovative and frugal?

    

 What am hearing about the Mission Inn Museum?  How about being taxpayer paid rent to Mr. Robert’s, or is it Mrs. Robert’s these days?  The Redevelopment Agency of The City Of Riverside entered into lease agreement with Duane Roberts Historic Mission Inn for a pre-paid amount of $1,255,873.00 to December 23,2022.  The Redevelopment Agency of The City Of Riverside also has the optional subleasing right, which it used to sublease to the Mission Inn Foundation, a non-profit organization, initiated by the City of Riverside.

                                                   

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL FIRST CONTRACT     CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL SECOND CONTRACT

In this sublease, the Mission Inn Foundation pays no rent to the Redevelopment Agency of The City of Riverside.  The argument in the lease is that it has already been paid for by The Redevelopment Agency. Is this a gift of public funds to the ‘burrito king’ Duane Roberts?  Well the 100K voted through by City Council.  Mayor Pre-Temp William “Rusty” Bailey even appeared to be giddy on the dais.  Was he feeling the illusional power of the Mayor?

Item #23, Marcy Library now considered surplus property and to be sold as such?  Fair market value in these times would be considered close to a ‘fire sale’, a few years back.  But not long ago it was in negotiations to be transformed into the new “Lucky Geek Greek Restaurant”.  TMC artist rendering of what could have been…you can just smell the burgers cooking in the new kitchen situated in what was the government section of the library.

Item#12 July 10, 2012 city council approves what I call a tax by voter neglect without voter approval. The City of Riverside will assess a levy on property owners for Landscaping and Maintenance for Riverswalk in the La Sierra area.  Each property owner will have to pay $225.73 in the 2012/2013 year.

         

By the way, the cities favorite son Albert A. Webb and Associates were appointed to assess the district, of course.

UPDATE: 08/01/2012: SAN BERNARDINO, CA FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY WITH OVER $1 BILLION IN DEBT.  THIS IS A CITY OF 210,000 OWING A $1 BILLION, THAT’S APPROXIMATELY $4,761.91 PER PERSON.  WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE TOTAL AGGREGATE DEBT $4.4 BILLION AND A CITY OF 300,000 THAT’S APPROXIAMATELY $14,677.00 PER INDIVIDUAL.  ANOTHER ARTICLE STATES THE THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO WAS PUSHED INTO AN EARLY BANKRUPTCY DUE TO THE NON PAYMENT OF THREE SEPARATE JUDGEMENTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS.

UPDATE: 08/06/2012:  WHAT IS IT WITH THE CITY’S NEW BUZZ WORD “THE FAB FIVE” THAT HAS LABELED A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT WEEKLY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS?  MORE TO COME..

UPDATE: 08/09/2012: REUTERS SAYS SAN BERNARDINO’S BANKRUPTCY MAY START A TREND FOR CALIFORNIA CITIES.  THE UPSWING IN BANKRUPTCY FILINGS COULD SIGNIFY A LACK OF ABILITY, BUT A LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO PAY DEBT SERVICE AT THE EXPENSE OF OF OTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.  YES, “YOU HAVE TO PAY THE RENT”! AS ONE COUNCILMAN RUSTY BAILEY TOLD ONE DOWNTOWN MERCHANT.  YES INDEED…OTHERS ARE BLAMING UNSUSTAINABLE PENSIONS.  AS MANY FEEL THESE UNION PENSION CONTRACTS WERE NEGOTIATED NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYER.  THEREFORE A BREACH OF TRUST AND CONSEQUENTLY SHOULD LEGALLY BE DEEMED NULL AND VOID.  ONE INTERESTING CONCEPT.. 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE 1977 ALL AMERICAN CITY RECIPIENT KNOWN AS THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO? WHO’S NEXT? RUMOUR IS THE CITY OF COMPTON CALIFORNIA.  BUT JUST AS BELL, MONTEBELLO, HERCULES, STOCKTON AND CITY OF RIVERSIDE…

THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ALSO WAS THE RECEPIENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING IN 2010 BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSICIATION.  I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, DO THESE AWARDS ACTUALLY MEAN ANYTHING?  WE RECENTLY AS A CITY WERE AWARDED MOST “INTELLIGENT COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR 2012”, BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT CALLS THEMSELVES THE INTELLIGENT COMMUNITY FORUM.  I WONDER WHAT WAS THE DECIDING POINT WAS?  RUMOR IS WE HAD THEM WITH RESIDENTS EATING CHEETOS IN THEIR UNDERWEAR..

UPDATE: 08/10/2012: COUNCILMAN/MAYORAL CANDIDATE RUSTY BAILEY, COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS, FORMER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TOM DESANTIS AND FORMER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON INTERFERED WITH THE POLICE PROMOTION PROCESS?  ACCORDING TO THE PE, “BAILEY WAS FURIOUS”!  WAS RUSTY BAILEY IN ANY WAY INSTRUMENTAL IN INTERFERING WITH THE PROMOTION PROCESS OF LT. VALMONT GRAHAM?  HOW LONG CAN COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS DEFLECT THE INEVITABLE?

UPDATE:08/15/2012: OUR SOURCES HAVE STATED THAT COUNCILMAN ANDY MELENDREZ HAS EXPERIENCED A HEART ATTACK, AND IS IN INTENSIVE CARE.  TO WHAT SEVERITY, WE DO NOT KNOW. 

WHATEVER THE CONDITION, WE WISH COUNCILMAN ANDY MELENDREZ A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

JUST FOR LAUGHS…

RIVERSIDE FORGOTTEN..MAGNOLIA AVENUE, RIVERSIDE, CA (CIRCA 1903)

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.  PROUDLY RATED ONE STAR (POSSIBLY DOWN TO ZERO FROM OUR LAST ACCOUNTS) 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 FOR GOOD REASON, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST, FOR GOOD REASON… 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 SPHALL SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR CONTACT US BY THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS! CONTRIBUTORS WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED… YES, WE EXPECT THE JAIL TIME FOR THAT ONE…  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM 

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