Posts Tagged ‘city manager john russo’

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: GARY G GEUSS WILL YOU PLEASE GO NOW!

Posted: October 22, 2020 in City of Riverside
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The time has come,
The time is now.
Just go, go, go!
I don’t care how.

You can go by foot.
You can go by cow.
Gary G. Geuss,
will you please go now!

June 11, 2019: Hunter catches City Attorney Geuss red-handed.  Our Council’s response?  He might be a crook, but he’s our crook!

While we appreciate his tenacity and optimism, we at TMC are often amused at the efforts of City watchdog Jason Hunter over the past decade.  In this instance, our guess is he thought he would bring overwhelming evidence that our City Attorney committed forgery in the execution of the John Russo contract back in February of 2018, leading to the Council summarily investigating the allegation, and then firing Geuss within months.  After all, they fired his comrade, the Talented Mr. Russo, seven weeks into a seven-year contract in April of 2018 based upon the evidence he brought forward at the time of misappropriation of funds and other hanky-panky…or at least that’s the cover story for why former Ward 1 City Councilman Mike Gardner and former Ward 7 City Councilman Steve Adams flipped their votes on “I can’t believe they just fired me” Russo.  But instead, the taxpayers are still paying Mr. Geuss’ salary and benefits (and his accumulating pension) while he’s been out on administrative leave for what seems to have been an eternity now.

Alas, we at TMC have no such misconceptions as to why a majority of our ethically-challenged Old City Council – Gardner (lost miserably in his re-election bid), Melendrez, Soubirous (ran for the hills), Conder, MacArthur (hiding out in the Greenbelt), Perry, and Adams (hopefully retired forever in 2 weeks) – never moved a finger to bring accountability to crooked executives: the fear of being exposed themselves.  Even Mayor Bailey – hightailing it off the dais in a couple weeks to build his dreams of a homeless industrial complex right here in Riverside – didn’t really care about the contents of the Russo contract when he vetoed it: it was a power struggle detailed in high definition here on TMC (another huge event the Press Enterprise was scooped on and never really understood).  Once you fall down the rabbit hole of Riverside County, you can rest assure that all previous concepts of reality cease to exist: the illusion of legitimacy is what we’re left with…kind of like a Dr. Seuss children’s book.

 

Bosom buddies Melendrez and Soubirous seen high-fiving over costing the taxpayers nearly a million dollars in legal fees over the Russo contract, which was later determined to be invalid.  Good job Thing 1 and Thing 2!

Exhibit 1A and 1B of Hunter’s argument (see if you can spot the difference):

Oh where or where did our little Mayor Bailey go?  Oh where oh where can he be?

Hunter astutely points out that the contract the City Council passed on February 6, 2018, is not the same contract that was executed on February 7th.  How?  The Mayor’s signature block was erased in the interim.  He next quotes from the City Charter regarding contracts and how only the Mayor (attested to by the Clerk) can sign them on behalf of the City, unless otherwise specifically designated by the Council.  He then presents the vote of the Council from February 6th.

          

click above to enlarge – City Charter on contracts & official minutes from February 6, 2018

Now we at TMC didn’t do much higher learnin’, but it seems kind of obvious to us that the City Council designated both the Mayor (Bailey) and Mayor Pro Tem (MacArthur) at the time to both sign Russo’s contract in order for it to be considered executed and payable from the City treasury.  The motion passed 5-2  (as seen in the image above) with Gardner and Adams later justifying their vote by saying they only jumped on board the Russo bandwagon because they wanted to discourage the Mayor from vetoing it.  Good strategy boys!

Mike Gardner, as the Grinch.  Would you vote for the Grinch for Western Municipal Water Board this November? 

TMC: History Channel buffs already know Russo began cashing out the extra provisions of his new contract within hours of it being signed, including his subsidized mortgage (waaaay below market interest rates) and a one-time $50,000 bonus, taken in the form of a vacation cash-out, etc.  Using our keen powers of logical thinking (and watching Hunter’s presentation 13 times) we’re pretty certain that when the Council voted specifically that TWO signatures were needed and the contract was funded with only one, hanky-panky [cough: fraud] has occurred.

It pays to the the Riverside City Manager: 2-day turnaround time between contract “execution” and money in-the-bank! Someone call the Guinness Book of Records!

WHODUNIT!?  Well, Hunter sinks the knife with the next documents he shares with the Council: transmittal sheets between the City Attorney’s Office and the Clerk Office.

Three Little Pigs?  $675,000 buys a lot of straw for a house, doesn’t it Mr. Russo?  Geuss’ house purportedly is made of sticks.

These transmittal sheets show the legal opinion of our City Attorney’s office during the approval process of the three Charter Officers contracts, the last time they had been extended.  Hunter notes, out of the three transmittal sheets, only Russo’s has two timestamps, one of them the day AFTER the contract had already been approved.  He points out what was changed: the word “Mayor” is scrawled out in the comments section as to who HAS to execute the contract.  And whose name is on this transmittal sheet?  Yes, dear readers, our current City Attorney’s, Gary G. Geuss.  In fact, checking the video from the night of the contract’s passage (and subsequent veto attempt), Geuss lets us know exactly what he’s going to do as far as changing his legal opinion after-the-fact:

I would indicate that the contract signed by myself and by Mr. Russo be forwarded to the [Mayor] Pro Tem for his signature and the City Clerk for her attestation.  And that is the only thing that is required to make this contract a legal and binding contract.”

Veto limited to legislature matters?  Well let’s remove the appropriations resolutions then!

 

The Cat-in-the-Hat Knows a Lot About That: Russo and MacArthur coordinating their possible criminal defense via text message.  TMC’s bet: Co-Conspirators Geuss, Russo, and MacArthur are going to see the “light”.

So where are we now and where do we go from here?  According to Geuss’ whine/complaint against the City (see below), almost A YEAR after Hunter brought damning evidence of forgery and named Geuss as the perpetrator, the new City Council (sworn in last December) finally put Geuss on administrative leave to investigate his claims.  In the interim, Riverside Superior Court ruled against the City in determining the Russo contract was invalid, as Mayor Bailey had the right to veto the extra provisions in the new contract, even though the resolution appropriating those provisions was never brought forward as it should’ve been.

Geuss’ complaint against the City after being put on administrative leave over 4 months ago.  Who withheld that necessary resolution we’ve circled?  Why it was none other than Geuss (and chief crony Kristi Smith) himself!!!  Funny he doesn’t mention that part!

Legal Malpractice?  Proof of intent to defraud the public?

As Russo informs us in his text above, the District Attorney’s Office, led by Mike Hestrin already reviewed the evidence once…and did nothing.  Would a referral for criminal prosecution this time by the full City Council lead to charges finally being filed?  Our prediction?  Not likely.

     

We need Superman, not Clark Kent: will the real Mike Hestrin please stand up?

From the Judicial Council of California … “To prove that the defendant is guilty of [forgery], the People must prove that: 1) the defendant falsely made/altered/forged/counterfeited a document (e.g. contract) AND 2) when the defendant did that act, he intended to defraud.”  So Geuss alters a contract, knowing he doesn’t have the authority to do so; and in doing so, it’s relied upon to be funded from the public treasury?  Sure seems like forgery to us…and every other human being we’ve asked (granted, TMC only has 4 friends  associates colleagues ok, we admit we called 4 random people from the phone book – yes, we are so old we still use the phone book).

Former Councilman MacArthur arriving at City Hall to sign Russo’s contract in the wee hours of the morning on February 7, 2018.  TMC says: at least he had the dignity to put on a suit when he was sleeping on the dais for 12 years.

 

Looks like prison food to us.

How the Grinch Stole Our Water Starring Mike Gardner? (a teaser for another day’s story)

 

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

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: THE RPU DOG AND PHONEY SHOW… IT JUST NEVER ENDS… RATE INCREASES BASED ON BOGUS NUMBERS!

Posted: May 29, 2018 in Uncategorized
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Do not fret my friends if you missed the show that never ends.  Never fear, stop the tears, TMC has it here…

RPU, the Greatest Show on Earth,  according to their own financial statements as of February of this year, had $333 million in unrestricted reserves at water and electric, that could be spent on anything utility-related with a simple majority vote of the Board and Council.  In contrast the general fund (which is about half the size of RPU) has just over $40 million in reserves.  RPU’s reserve levels are simply outrageous by comparison… and yet our greedy Council still voted to raise your rates.  Why?  Because 18% of the total rate increase is simply new taxes, so this was also a tax increase… without a public vote.  The employees who pushed the rate increase will also get AUTOMATIC raises based on the size of the increase because of the Partnership Compensation Model.  It’s apparently a racket and scheme to deceive the taxpayer.  Again it is not about Infrastructure it’s all about General Fund Transfer to pay Pensions.

What Councilman Steve Adams reveal at City Council was shocking, disturbing and wreaked of deception.  He stated that rate increases were passed and supported based on bogus numbers, according to Councilman Adams.  TMC agrees because we broke the story.  Thank-you and good job Adams!  The rest of the dunderheads especially those speaking for Riverside businesses, such as the Riverside Chamber of Commerce, who simply know nothing of business, and may have been behind the manipulation of figures.  As a result, former RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran was shown the door.  Former City Manager John Russo was shown the entrance of the 91 freeway, and Guess may just be tar and feathered if the District Attorney doesn’t get there first…

Adams goes on to say that in three meetings concerning rate increase he was given ‘bogus numbers.’  Councilman Chuck Condor and Adam’s assistant Sandy also witnessed this as stated by Adams.  After repeatedly being misled by false numbers, knowing the pretense that the former City Manager and General Manager were working under, Adams believed it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to continue any further talks on rate increases until three conditions are met.  One, the new City Manager is in place.  Second, a new General Manager of Utilities is hired.  Thirdly, an independent audit of the utility that answers directly to the Council.  TMC has heard that there has been manipulation or editing of prior audits by the City Manager’s office and staff.  Audits performed by interim City Manager Lee McDougal were apparently edited by a staff member of the former City Manager John Russo’s office, before reaching Council.  In lieu of the new revealing information, the Chamber of Commerce and Members of the Public Utility Board continued to support the rate increases along with Council Members Melendrez, Gardner, Mac Arthur and Perry who passed it.

Councilman Steve Adams states that the former City Manager John Russo gave a ‘direct order’ to former RPU General Manager Girish Balanchandran, quote, ” to ask for the stars, moon and the sky… so that we can raise these rates, fluff up the utility and our reserves, so we can sell it.”  Adams goes on to say that Russo never contacted the Council regarding this, and he had never contacted the RPU Board regarding this either.  This something Russo wanted to do because he believed he could sell at least the Electric part of the utility.

If this was the behind the curtain shenanigans, we could therefore assume Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen and Assistant City Manager Mariana Marysheva would have also known of the deception.  You would think that Councilman Andy Melendrez would jump up from his seat and ask for an investigation.  Not.  Instead, he voted to increase utility rates based on Councilman Adam’s claim of ‘bogus numbers.’

According to Riverside Tax Advocate and Riverside Resident Jason Hunter states at City Council, “Poor pitiful RPU has no money! This rate increase is base on one thing and one thing only….Deception!  We have electric reserves rising year to year by $20 million!”  This isn’t Hunter’s statement it comes from RPU documents.

Mary Humboldt makes mention on ‘step increases’ which seemingly are a public sector phenomenon, and is never seen in the private sector!  What is that all about?  Well it’s about deception and Union involvement, which continues to be a direct problem and interference with their paid for candidates attempting to be transparent.  Automatic raises!  What about the $275K in Over Time given to an employee.

Does the RPU Board lie again on the reserve slush fund, according to RPU Board Member Dave Austin, it’s all about that San Onofre Bug-A-Boo.  That’s the ticket!  Austin, former Riverside Fire Fighter and Chairman of your Board of Public Utilities may have completely missed the mark on this one.  Taxpayers are now asking the questions… is he a Firefighter for the Taxpayer, or simply an Arsonist, who took part in igniting the flames for higher utility rates?  He apparently didn’t hear what Councilman Adams had to say, or may have been given bogus numbers.  The board chairman didn’t even find it necessary to investigate the allegation of bogus numbers that were used to apparently push the increases through! Where were these numbers coming from?  From former City Manager John Russo and former RPU General Manager Girish Balachandran.  Amazing! That in itself is shocking!  No one seems to be interested in finding the truth.  Because as Councilman Chris Mac Arthur states, don’t think about it logically, think about it emotionally.

RPU Board Chairperson Dave Austin clearly does not know what he is talking about.

What was apparently shocking and disturbing is even after Councilman Adams revealed elements of deception and bogus numbers, the supporter for the rate hike still wanted the rate hike!  Did they hear anything Adams said?  Apparently not.  In many cases truth doesn’t matter, it’s only an impediment in the overall scheme of deception.

YEP..IT CAN’T GET BETTER THAN THIS… ENJOY THE NEW RATE INCREASES ON THE THE PUBLIC UTILITY YOU OWN… AGAIN YOU WERE TAKEN BY THIS DOG AND PHONEY SHOW BY YOUR CITY OF RIVERSIDE REPRESENTATIVES AND STAFF!

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

BREAKING NEWS: CITY MANAGER JOHN RUSSO FIRED!!! CONSPIRACY TO EMBEZZLE PUBLIC FUNDS??

Posted: April 17, 2018 in Uncategorized
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“Have I made wrong decisions? Sure, everyone does. We all make mistakes because we have imperfect information, we’re not always as mature as we should be or our emotions get the better of us. However, I can honestly say that I never made a wrong ethical decision.”   –  ex-City Manager John Russo

da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” remastered by Riverside’s now former City Manager  

Has the great one been shown the entrance to the 91 Freeway?  Yes he was!  As far as we know, Council never fired a City Manager, this may be the first, and it must have been for a good reason.  But knowing Russo he probably preferred being fired to receive more bang for his buck through the taxpayer.  On the other hand, don’t you love it when Councilman Jim Perry wished him well!  The bustle and tussle of rumors were coming through the TMC notification center earlier today stating City Manager John Russo has been fired without cause, and was announced at Today’s April 17, 2018 City Council Meeting.  Fired without Cause?  Probably to avoid litiigation.  It was a 4 to 3 vote that came while Russo was performance review was being undertaken by Council in closed session.  Councilman Steve Adams, Chuck Conder, Mike Gardner and Jim Perry were the four who voted to fire City Manager John Russo.  Questions arise as to Councilman Steve Adams and Mike Gardner change in vote this time around.  Did they have a come to Jesus meeting with the godfather himself… John Tavaglione?

But what may have been the last straw for Council, was coming to the realization that a crime may have allegedly occurred.  The fact the Mayor can veto a resolution should be the focus. What our City Attorney and City Manager allegedly did is present a contract to Council without a resolution, as required by Municipal Code and/or City Charter.  Therefore the argument is that the Mayor cannot veto their employee contracts, because there is no resolution, which is true, but not without violating City Charter.  Further, there may be some culpability on Councilman Chris Mac Arthur’s part, who at the time was Mayor Pro Tem and signed the Russo contract, in lieu of Mayor Bailey being in town as required by Charter.  Hence, Mac Arthur violates the rules of the City Charter by overstepping his bounds.  This was a true miscalculation in judgement.

Rumor is that Mike Hestrin’s District Attorney’s office was brought in to investigate and ask questions regarding City Manager John Russo’s contract.  Hell broke loose with City Councilman Jim Perry and City Attorney Gary Geuss, who blamed Perry for bringing the District Attorney in.  Chief Financial Officer Adam Raymond was questioned by Councilman Jim Perry of why certain relevant issues such as Russo’s vacation pay out were not brought forward to him in the name of transparency.  It seems that tension continues on the City Hall Seventh Floor with City Attorney Gary Geuss and Chief Financial Officer Adam Raymond, who always seemed to be pressed anyway, when answering relevant questions.  What did he really know?  The blame game continues.

Could Former Interim City Manager Lee McDougal be the choice for interim City Manager once again for the City of Riverside?  Lee again, comes with his own set of baggage as we indicated in prior post on TMC.  TMC knows the real story of Lee McDougal of what happened in the City of Montclair.  Let’s not forget his attempt to close camera close ups because he couldn’t handle the free speech at public comment.  Yes, Lee will be nothing more than another bobble head.

Did City Manager make a miscalculation in judgement when it came to pushing the issue of remunerations?  Riverside’s Cool Conceited City Manager was finally taken down by the old guard of Riverside.  His vanity got the best of him.

The story of John Russo is nothing new, he climbed the ladder of success and became the top dog in Alameda and Riverside and I’m sure some other unsuspecting city will be glad to have him.  He only lasted three years in the small Southern California City of Riverside, and didn’t even complete his full contract.  His arrogant personality got in his way and the Council finally may have had enough.

Were these the reasons John Russo was fired tonight?  And if so, is this the beginning of John Russo’s, and not Mayor Bailey’s, legal problems.  Local resident activist Jason Hunter sums up the problems with the Russo contract.

THE CASH OUT PROBLEM: CITY MANAGER JOHN RUSSO’S STATEMENT AT CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2018: UNBEKNOWNST COUNCILMAN JIM PERRY WHO WAS BEHIND THE RUSSO CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, APPARENTLY AND EVIDENTLY MAY NOT HAVE HAD ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION NECESSARY IN ORDER TO COMPOSE A CONCLUSIVE DECISION.

According to the video City Manager John Russo told Council he would like to take more time to spend with his family and apparently not cash vacation, as opposed to using them.  But the truth of the matter he evidently cashed out the $50K vacation pay.  In addition, the mortgage loan for his home of $675K, should have been $625K, he therefore also cashed out another 50K for a total of $100K. What gives?  More culpability on Councilman Chris Mac Arthur for not doing a proper assessment on the property?  It now places City Council in a precarious position with the eyes of District Attorney Mike Hestrin’s Office clearly positioned on this activity.

According to City Manager John Russo’s statement..  “I want to be forced to take more vacation, the idea here, I work all the time, I have a kid in the bay area and a mom in a dementia ward in New York…”

“I’d like to feel that I can take that time off, and that I have to take it off, so the city saves money by my not cashing it, since I can’t cash it I can’t accrue it..so I gotta take vacation..”

Russo leaves his position with a years severance, the contract entitles Russo to receive pay and other benefits worth about $471,000 this year and a course his $675,000 low-interest home loan.  Not to shabby for a short stint, now he will travel to another unsuspecting town.  CFO Adam Raymond fumbles to find words to answer simple direct questions by Mayor of cash outs by the City Manager.  Interesting enough, Russo interrupts.  While the council fired him without cause… they are going to wish that he was.  Because if they know or find that there was behavior to knowingly defraud the Council and the taxpayer, that would be a felony, and also known as misappropriation of funds.

CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY BY CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY? RIVERSIDE ACTIVIST JASON HUNTER GIVES THE LOW DOWN ON THE LOU DESMOND & CO RADIO SHOW TODAY: 04.18.2018

 

COMMENTS FROM THE FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, THE PRESS ENTERPRISE, WE ARE ASPIRING TO BE IN THAT REALM OF HONOR!

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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

CITY OF ‘REEFER’SIDE: THE CHEECH PROJECT: ‘STILL SMOKIN’ OR ‘UP IN SMOKE’?

Posted: March 22, 2018 in Uncategorized
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WILL THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE BE SNIFFING THE GREEN WITH THE SUCCESS OF “THE CHEECH”?

UPDATE: 03.27.2018: PRESS ENTERPRISE: RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL EYES BAN ON MARIJUANA BUSINESSES: The City’s hypocrisy has no end. You bring in the Cheech Project idea with open arms and completely discount what and who the person is known for all at the same time. ‘Reefer’ side could be the center of the ‘pot’ revolution! First you have the Cheech Project, then all you need now is the ‘grass’ for the city coffers to be ‘loaded’ with ‘green.’ The ‘grass’ is really greener on the other side this time. Another missed opportunity or too big a bag of an opportunity?  Interesting enough, the City of Riverside has enough money to launch a new Office of Homeless Solutions consisting of a team made up of Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen and 12 other people.  Sorry guys when you come to ‘Reefer’ side you can only carry an ounce if the ordinance passes, not a bag you both can walk in.

Given the financial straits the City finds itself in these days, Riverside residents are appropriately beginning to ask, “How much is ‘the Cheech’ (short for Chicharrón) project going to cost us?”  Back in February 2017, the Discovery Cube project was scrapped, leaving options open again for the aged downtown Library.  Why did the Cube’s backers decide to leave?  According to a later staff report, it was, “economically not feasible at this time,” …we’d add, “without further public subsidies.”

And while the public continued to openly state their displeasure with a $30, $40 $43 million new Jetsons library concept, as opposed to more cost-consciously renovating the old one, our Council continued to push forward to rid the Mission Inn of unsightly homeless people with the aid of City Manager John Russo.  And the answer our resident rockstar came back with, after hashing through several other options supposedly, was the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture, and Industry, which would serve as a home for Marin’s private pussycat Chicano art collection and provide space for temporary exhibitions, classes and lectures.

But will we be seeing blurred lines if the Riverside Art Museum, leading the fundraiser efforts for “the Cheech,” project, doesn’t hit their extended deadline to raise a total of $3 million by May 2018 – a condition set by our City Council needed to continue progress towards making the Cheech a stoned-cold reality?  Problem is, even if they do, does the public really know what the final numbers are to rehabilitate the old library (a certifiable roach motel), or how much dough they’re committed to for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the joint?  Will those costs and others continue to chronically rise like has been the pattern with the new library?  Will the Cheech project eventually go ‘Up In Smoke’, and the idea of an avant-garde art center be just another one of Russo’s ‘Nice Dreams’ for the ole’ River City, made without any consideration that ‘Things Are Tough All Over’ for everyone who doesn’t have a government job?

Taking a “the grass is always greener,” perspective, the Cheech could also be an extension of the City of Riverside, and the center of the pot revolution.  Bringing untold millions in local taxes, the residents could finally see those buds trees trimmed, pot holes filled and homeless housed in gold-tiled apartments; and those pesky exorbitant public employee pensions would turn out to be just figments of our smoke-filled minds.  Oh, the irony!

According to “High Times” Cheech has been enlisted by the State of California to help register pot businesses.  Revenue for much needed services is what Riverside needs to keep this town ‘Still Smokin’ in the market place!

But what’s the straight dope?  We at TMC are committed to weeding through the real facts and figures for our readers.  Let’s start with the makeup of that initial $3 million startup money.  Well, $2 million will be raised by private pledges and contributions, while $1 million will come from the State in a form of a grant.  As many have pointed out, that $1 million from the State is still public money, even if it’s not money from the City general fund.  So yes, Riverside taxpayers are already on the hook alongside fellow Californians.

One thing Riverside taxpayers will be solely responsible for is the ongoing operations – cush jobs provided for Riverside Art Museum employees under contract from the City – and maintenance of the Cheech Project.  The total costs are estimated to come in between between $750,000 and $925,000 annually, to be partially recovered by a $1-2 admission fee.  Math never being our expertise we admit, we still figure “the Cheech” needs about 3,000 visitors daily to break even.  To be blunt: ain’t gonna happen.  Further, $100,000 was already approved out of our general fund last year by the Council for architectural services.

‘‘THE CHEECH’ MOU, MAY 16, 2017

Back to those pesky start-up capital costs.  A recent article in the Press Enterprise stated that the total cost of renovating and re-configuring the old library into the Cheech, which maxed out at  $7 million a year ago, now could reach as high as $10 million…hmmm, where have we seen this pattern before?  And it’s certainly evident that it’s been a long hard struggle to reach that $3 million mark to begin with.  And if that bogey is hit, where will the additional $7 million come from?  More I.O.U.’s?  Yes, the plan is to continue to raise that money (private, public, whomever still has a pot to piss in) and create an endowment for ongoing expenses on top of that.

CITY OF RIVERSIDE NEW FISCAL HAWK, MAYOR WILLIAM “RUSTY” BAILEY

At City Council on February 23, 2018, Mayor Bailey grilled presenters of the Cheech regarding how much money they had in hand towards the $3 million goal. $80K was the answer, with the balance in pledges (I.O.U.’s), totaling $1.7 million plus the impending State grant of $1 million, most likely derived from Assemblyman Jose Medina’s support to pass Governor Jerry Brown’s new gas tax.  We remind folks that when the library was being looked at for renovation, the cost was in the neighborhood of $20 million.  Will Cheech, or any of his vast array of high-net-worth friends, consider investing in Riverside and his project?  Or might the plug be pulled on the Cheech due to the chance that taxpayers may be asked to foot the bill on an unpaid ‘two finger bag’?  And if that possibility remains, should we reconsider building a new library all-together?  Or, will the Council simply start extending deadlines and take the money from its residents and businesses find financially more creative ways of accommodating the Cheech rather than admit they are on ‘doobie’ us grounds?  It would seem that to continue on this road would only make the taxpayers see ‘acapulco red.’

Well according to Russo, even if the project does not transpire, the City of Riverside still has to spend the ganja to repair the 1960’s library’s roof, heating, air conditioning system and elevator, estimated at $1.5 million.  His hope is that others will pay for that instead of local taxpayers (as long as we’re willing to fork over $40 million for a new library and subsidize the ongoing operations and maintenance at the Cheech.)

DONATE: FOR THE RIVERSIDE ART MUSEUM PROPOSED CHEECH MARIN CENTER FOR CHICANO ART, CULTURE AND INDUSTRY. 

FILE UNDER “PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE”: One would think that it would be more appropriate to honor someone when a project has been completed, such as the ‘grand opening’ or ‘ribbon cutting,’ not while they haven’t even completed raising the first round of start-up funds!  And yet Riverside City Manager John Russo has been named “Public Partner of the Year” by the Inland Empire Economic Partnership for his leadership on the development of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and Industry in downtown Riverside.  Is the ‘Mutual Admiration Society of Riverside,’ (MASOR) in ‘high’ gear, or what?  Good job John Russo City of Riverside Minister of Propaganda Spokehole Phil Pitchford!

Riverside City Manager John Russo Honored for Nurturing Cheech Marin Center…wow

Cheech, you are absolutely driving okay, especially when you doling out a possible revenue stream for the City of Riverside.  You can be rest assured that the Riverside Police Department under Chief Sergio Diaz will be ‘highly’ motivated that you will reach your destination safely.  Why?  Because we do have two sets of rules in River City.

HOW DID THE WHOLE APPROACH TAKE PLACE BETWEEN CHEECH AND RUSSO WITH REFERENCE TO DISPLAYING HIS ART IN OUR MUSEUM?   Well according to O.C. Weekly, while in Riverside last year (2017) for the second iteration of “Papel Chicano Dos: Works on Paper From the Collection of Cheech Marin,” which featured 65 artworks by 24 established and early career artists, the actor/collector was randomly approached by John Russo, the city manager, with a proposition. “He told me how perfect it would be for Riverside, which is 51 percent Chicano, and the Inland Empire at-large, which is 52 percent Chicano, to open a museum for my art,” says Cheech. “At first, I had no idea what he was talking about. I was like, ‘What? You want me to buy a museum? I don’t know if I can do that.’ And [Russo] said, ‘No! We want to give you a museum to house your collection.’

AT THE MARCH 13, 2018 FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING: COUNCILMAN MIKE SOUBIROUS REFERENCED THE OLD DOWNTOWN LIBRARY AND IT’S REPAIR ISSUES, BUT HE ALSO STATES THAT THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY IS A DANGER ZONE FOR CHILDREN AND EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE OF A PEDOPHILE PROBLEM.  Now that a serious public safety statement has been made, what will this retired Commander for the Highway Patrol request our local police department to do in order to combat this problem?

RIVERSIDE TOURISM BUREAU’S NEXT CREATIVE ADVERTISEMENT

IT SEEMS CHEECH ALSO HAS A FINE COLLECTION OF PUSSYCATS RIVERSIDERS MAY WANT TO INSPECT!  MAYBE WE CAN CONVERT THE OLD FIRESTATION FOR THIS NEW CHEECH VENUE!

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

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: FOUR KIND OF LIES: LIES, DAMNED LIES, STATISTICS & CITY ATTORNEY OPINIONS…

Posted: March 14, 2018 in Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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…AND CITY ATTORNEY OPINIONS! – JASON HUNTER

IT’S SIMPLY JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE….

TMC has long-believed that the modern-day role of City Attorneys in corrupt Southern California governments has been to provide legal cover for City Councils who wish to steal from the general public.  No better case study could we find than the current one, where it appears City Attorney Gary Geuss gives biased, shoddy legal opinions to thwart Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey’s veto powers in order to ram through his and his buddy, City Manager John Russo’s, gold-plated contracts.

Last Tuesday, local resident Jason Hunter rode in on a white horse to save Team Bailey by systematically laying waste to the City’s $1 million legal team of Russo and Geuss’ excuses as to why certain parts of their contracts are valid by explaining why an appropriations measure (in this case a resolution called the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan) MUST coincide or precede a spending measure (in this case their contracts).  He called for the dynamic duo to return their ill-gotten gains or follow the City’s long-standing processes and laws and bring forward the appropriations measure by resolution (with Mayor Bailey waiting in the wings with his veto we presume).

WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ RESOLUTIONS!

WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T TAKE ON CITY HALL?

In the above video Hunter continues to disassemble the two executives case for keeping their booty, by explaining how apparently, the section of our City Charter the Russo/Geuss team calls (in an email by cannon fodder proxy, HR Director Stephanie Holloman) out as excluding the 3 Charter Officers contracts from coverage under the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan actually states that the 3 Charter Officers contracts are covered under the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan.  Fresh out of Bill Clinton cigars, instead we give the legal wordsmithing by the Russo/Geuss (with an assist from new kid on the block Michael Colantuono?) team here this year’s first annual “TMC Hudson/Priamos-memorial bullpoop award,” for self-service masquerading as public service.  We will ask Chamber Queen Cindy Roth whether we can present the award at the Chamber’s Mayors’s State of the City address next year if we can find an extra $50 to buy a seat at the mutual admiration society’s premier event.

Hunter then proceeds to produce the resolutions that accompanied Geuss’ own contract from 2015 and even Laguna Woods’ hustler former City Manager Brad Hudson original contract from 2005, both indicating that the spending authority (complete with the Mayor’s signature) must be created BEFORE/AS employment contracts can be/are signed.  Apparently, our current City Manager/Attorney duo think they’re special because it’s been widely acknowledged by 5 (Sleepy, Grumpy, Dopey, Happy, and Bashful) of the 7 dwarfs on the Council that, “you’d have to be an idiot not to keep them here.”  We’ll let you decide which dwarf is whom (between Gardner, Melendrez, Soubirous, MacArthur, and Adams)…and whom the real idiots are.

2/6/18: WARD 5 CITY COUNCILMAN CHRIS MACARTHUR IMPLIES WE’D BE IDIOTS NOT TO APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER’S $450,000+ CONTRACT

2/6/18: WARD 7 CITY COUNCILMAN STATES, “WE’RE DOUBLE-DATING FRIENDS,” IN OBVIOUS CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST…AND MENTIONS COUNCIL ONCE-AGAIN VIOLATES THE BROWN ACT BY AGREEING TO OPEN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS EARLY IN 2015 WITHOUT INFORMING THE PUBLIC

And then Hunter brings down the hammer of truth: if the spending resolutions amending the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan, which HAVE to be approved by our elected City Council, don’t apply to our 3 Charter Officers at Team Russo contends, how was the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan amended anyway? It’s a classic Catch-22.  Only real question left is, “whodunit?” and we’ll get to that shortly for our not-captive audience.

You see dear readers, we know a little sumptin’ sumptin’ about how this game works from an operational standpoint that Messieurs Russo/Geuss from their high-fallutin’ places on the dais may not – Payroll doesn’t print those government checks without checking the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan first.  And who maintains/revises/amends that plan?  Well, according to our Municipal Code, Human Resources Director Stephanie Holloman does! …as approved by City Manager Russo.  And so it appears, in order to get paid their loot, Mr. Russo approved his and Geuss’ checks, while Geuss provided the legal cover for this shady business.  And so far our City Council, led by love/star-struck pinheads using emotion-based decision-making and in the case of Ward 7 Councilman Steve Adams, hot dinner dates, has done nothing to stop this monkey business…all designed to thwart the Mayor’s Charter-protected veto power and to pillage the taxpayer.

Yup, there’s gonna be trouble all-right, right here in the Ole’ River City.  And TMC will be right here with our popcorn reporting on the real stories the Press Enterprise doesn’t print anymore.

ADDENDUM 3/14/18: We noticed below, in the email response to Jason Hunter, Human Resources Director Stephanie Holloman attempts to sidetrack him by slightly changing the wording.  She changed Chapter 2.32.030, where it says “City offices.”  It should say “City officers.”  Very sneaky Ms. Holloman, but we don’t miss a beat at TMC.

Stephanie states this in the email:  2.32.030 – The basic monthly salary plan for City offices and employees shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

Riverside Municipal Code states this:  2.32.030 – The basic monthly salary plan for City officers and employees shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

HUMAN RESOURCES RESPONSE TO HUNTER EMAIL

                    

BRADHUDSONRESOLUTION2005                               GARYGEUSSRESOLUTION2015

 

                         

ART VII CITY CHARTER                                            PERSONNEL SYSTEM

SALARY SCHEDULE WITH REVISED, NON-AUTHORIZED NUMBERS 2017

In what appears to be red meat for the lions, Hunter also discusses the possibility that City Manager John Russo gave himself a 4% raise on January 1st, 2018, when his contract wasn’t passed until February 6th.  Click to view City Manager John Russo’s pay stubs.  You will see that in December 2017 his hourly rate is $151.21; once the new year began in January 2018 his hourly rate shot up to $157.26!  That’s a 4% increase!  This was done without Council passing the contract!  You’ll find that in February 2018 it was decreased to an hourly rate of $155.75, which Council passed at the 3% increase.

We hear this might be a “clerical error,” but what if it’s part of an ongoing pattern?  It appears that Russo gave himself a $28,000 raise in Oakland as the elected City Attorney.  Who signed his time card?!  The political in-fighting continues and the dirty laundry continues to be exposed … mostly their skivvies.

CLICK TO VIEW RUSSO PAYSTUBS 2017-2018

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Jason Hunter was the keynote speaker for a full house again at the RRR (Residents getting Reprehensible for Responsible Representation) meeting on Monday, March 12, 2018.  This community group must be doing something right since their Councilmembers, Jim Perry and Steve Adams, refuse to attend, especially if Mr. Hunter is allowed to tell the truth speak about topics of their constituents’ concern.  Shout out to Sharon Mateja for inviting Sneezy and Sleepy them anyway!

BUDGET CRUNCHES, 25% EMPLOYEE RAISES, MAYOR VETOS AND LAWSUITS….OH MY!

THE ABOVE VIDEO IS FROM THE QUESTION ANSWER SECTION OF THE R.R.R. MEETING FROM THE RESIDENTS TO JASON HUNTER.

CITY OF RIVERSIDE:02.06.2018: Councilman Mike Soubirous tells the public what Los Angeles thinks of us folks here in Riverside. Are we just a bunch of hillbilly’s with not a heap of book learning?  We at TMC can do all that fancy ciphering without using our fingers.

THIS IS FOR JOHN ZAVESKY FROM THE WOOD STREETS, WHO SENT THIS IN.  IT LOOKS TO ME THAT RIVERSIDE WOOD STREET NEIGHBORS ARE GETTING RESTLESS ON CITY ISSUES!  NOWS (NEIGHBORS OF THE WOOD STREETS) WHERE ART THOU?  YOU ARE MISSING THE BOAT JUST ABOUT NOWS… THE HEAT IN THE KITCHEN COULDN’T BE HOTTER!

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

EXCLUSIVE: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: THE RUSTY FILES….HOW MANY WIVES?

Posted: March 12, 2018 in Uncategorized
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Love my enemies, bless those who curse me, pray for their salvation.  – Book of Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey, circa at exactly February 12, 2018, 8:27am

THE RUSTY FILES: [queue eerie music] We present a few of the personal notes reflecting on a cornucopia of thoughts the Mayor wrote to himself for future reference as he brooded over the Russo/Geuss/Soubirous/Melendrez/MacArthur-led coup just days before.  In others words, “Did anyone get the license plate of that truck?”

      

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE JUST A SMIDGEN OF THE RUSTY FILES

Well, the City of Riverside doesn’t have any trouble, someone once said.  Well, we’ll just have to create some, another exclaimed!  See, we at TMC remember waaaaaaay back in 2016, shortly after City Attorney Gary Geuss came on board, back when the hotshot former L.A. litigator dreamt of a hostile takeover of the some of the elected Riverside County District Attorney’s duties.  Of course, it was all about efficiency in the court system.  “Hah!” we said, and thankfully, so did the voters.

A VIEW INTO THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE IF MEASURE A, THE RIVERSIDE CITY PROSECUTOR MEASURES WOULD’VE PASSED

Well according to the Rusty Files, Russo manipulated Geuss to test the waters against D.A. Mike Hestrin and whatever other power structures there were in Riverside County at the time, including seventy-billion-time re-elected former D.A. Grover Trask.  He is a troublemaker.

Moreover, the Rusty Files reveal Russo loves to create controversy, then come in and save the day.  And he loves to get credit for easy wins…such as Measure-Z, the Library, Museum and the Budget.  Rusty asks the question, “Is there a pattern here?” He is a front-runner.

He refers to other city’s where Russo was in the middle of conflict, then left when the going got tough.  He goes on to say that John loves to fight, argue and purposely create opposition just for the sport of toying with them.  He is a manipulator.

Does Russo do what he says he will do?  It appears according to the Mayor, that Russo cannot be counted on.  He says one thing, and does another.  He cannot be trusted.

Then our sweet, beloved, squeaky clean homegrown Mayor drops the bombshell, “How many wives?”  Is it a metaphor for how Russo treats the cities and the public who have paid for his ever-expanding waistline, or should we take this at its literal meaning and infer more?  Does City Manager John Russo have commitment problems?  He is disloyal.

What else lurks in the depths of the Rusty Files?  As a teaser for future TMC posts we’ll leave this at the door: it turns out Cindy Roth, the Chamber Queen and long-time ally of Mayor Rusty Bailey is not a bit amused by being cut from the General Fund gravy train by City Manager John Russo.  Her husband, Senator Roth, who profited as well from the legal gravy train provided by our fair city for many a year, is rumored to have helped the Mayor with his veto defense arguments.  A real State Senator vs. a wannabe State Assemblyman: it’s on like Donkey Kong!

CLICK ABOVE TO ENLARGE PIC

MIKE FINE’S MESSAGE:

Rusty refers to Mike Fine’s message, and to print it out so that the Council will read it.  Mike Fine, former deputy superintendent for RUSD and member of the Riverside Budget Engagement Commission (quickly becoming our favorite citizen-led commission of all-time), apparently had a bit to say about Measure Z monies being spent to fill the pockets of Mr. Russo.  And we have those Facebook messages for your viewing pleasure, including a little tiff with Councilman Andy Melendrez, where Fine takes the Ward 2 Councilman to school.  Some excerpts:

I volunteered to sit on the city’s budget commission as a way to give back to my hometown. I recently spent eight hours over two nights listening to the departments express their plans and needs. There was no mention of a hefty raise and home loan for the city manager. It wasn’t listed as a need. How do I do the job the city has asked me to do as a volunteer who has expertise in governmental budgeting when not all the information was shared? While I can still make a recommendation to the council regarding budget matters, what’s the point when the council acts recklessly in the midst of the budget process? 

My point is simple. The city has many needs -many more than resources will cover. At a time when you will have to consider cuts in services and programs you sent the wrong message to the residents, employees and partners of the city. City vendors are being asked to reduce their prices by 10% at the same time the council is awarding senior management raises and an unwarranted home loan.

You will recall that the city sold voters on a sales tax increase to support police and fire. But now, under the city manager’s direction, they are proposing cuts – to budgets, not taxes!

This is an issue of leadership – more precisely, a lack of leadership.

According to Fine the City is full of contradictions and flouts the perception of transparency but in reality has none.  Sounds to us like Mr. Fine has been listening to longtime city critic advocate Jason Hunter, who coincidentally tells us something B-I-G is coming (we can’t wait).

                        

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE THE FINE COMMENTARY

RUSTY FILES FOR TRIAL:  In a sign of the times Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey filed suit against the City of Riverside on Friday March 9, 2018, with reference to the veto issue , and the batshit, no self-serving contradictory legal opinion expressed by City Attorney Gary Geuss.  According to the City of Riverside’s Salary Regulations Section 2.32.030 the salary plan states, “The basic monthly compensation plan for City officers and employees shall be established by resolution of the City Council.”

We believe there has been malfeasance playing out within the confines of City Hall by the fact that current contracts for both Geuss and Russo accompanied no such ‘resolution.’  For years dear readers, every new contract that included new & improved terms for fatcat bureaucrats included a resolution which authorized the spending on behalf of the City; then all of a sudden, poof, it disappeared.

Why?  Well, our lying eyes have seen the in-fighting that has recently taken place between the Mayor’s Office and the City Manager’s Office, with Council taking sides, and believe this to be the cause.  We therefore presuppose that this omittance was done to strategically counter Bailey’s impeding veto.  See folks, according to City Charter, Rusty can legally veto a ‘resolution.’  Without the ‘resolution’ in the contract, technically, Rusty’s veto might not be valid.  This was orchestrated by design.  But it appears our Mayor is not in the mood to take any prisoners this time.

          

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW BAILEY’S FULL LAW SUIT

UPDATE: 03.12.2018: PRESS ENTERPRISE: RIVERSIDE MAYOR SUES HIS OWN CITY IN BATTLE OVER ‘EXPENSIVE’ CITY MANAGER’S CONTRACT

UPDATE: 03.12.2018: LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS: NEW RETIREES IN GARDENA, PASADENA AND RIVERSIDE MAKE OVER $200,000 PENSIONS

UPDATE: 03.12.2018: PRESS ENTERPRISE: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S AVERAGE PAY HIKE? $2 A WEEK

The Ides of February 2018 came and went.  The day of the veto, Rusty Bailey probably felt a bit like Caesar did when his Council Buddies were waiting for him at the Council Forum on that cold Tuesday afternoon…

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

EXCLUSIVE: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: GEUSS & RUSSO CONTRACTS NULL & VOID! COLLUSION TO DEFRAUD THE PUBLIC?

Posted: March 6, 2018 in Uncategorized
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NOT-SO-FAST ON THOSE SHINY NEW CONTRACTS!

Local resident Jason Hunter exposes the truth about the newly-signed gold-plated contracts of both City Manager John Russo and City Attorney Gary Geuss.  Turns out the current contracts were not accompanied by an amendment to a resolution called the Master Fringe Benefits and Salary Plan, signed by the Mayor as required by City’s Municipal Code (local law).  That particular resolution grants authority to the Council to pay certain salaries and benefits to certain positions.  And the jury at TMC believes the omittance of this document to be intentional given other recent employee deals.  But what the heck do we know!?

When both Russo and Geuss were initially employed, this particular resolution was included within the agenda packet that contained their contracts.  Three years later it magically disappears.  Hunter states the two ramifications of what’s been perpetrated: 1) the contracts terms negotiated outside the authority of the resolution are invalid (and the monies need to be returned immediately to the City’s treasury) and 2) upon re-introduction of the resolution, the Mayor has the right to veto the terms, as he does all resolutions under Section 413 of the City Charter.

                       

Who would have known?  We could extrapolate that City Attorney Gary Geuss, City Manager John Russo and even Human Resources Director Stephanie Holloman would have known.  Incidentally, Holloman and Geuss we hear know each other from their employment with the City/Port of Los Angeles.  Perhaps even Councilman Chris MacArthur could have known given how he eagerly tried to override Mayor Bailey’s veto by signing Russo’s contract as Mayor Pro-Tem.  Maybe even Councilman Jim Perry, who signed Geuss’ deal, was in on the scheme.

        

Who also should have 100% with-out-doubt-known is City Clerk Colleen J. Nicol. Her 30% raise over the past 2-1/2 years must have affected her emotional decision-making not to alert Mayor Bailey. She is either afraid of Russo and Geuss, or she’s simply a master at playing the game (and consequently cruising into retirement at your expense). In our experience, Colleen doesn’t miss a piece of paper at City Hall…what we’d call a pro’s pro…so what’s up?  Whatever the reason, you can be sure TMC will find out!

                         

  JOHN RUSSO FULL MEMO/RESOLUTION                    GARY GEUSS FULL MEMO/RESOLUTION

 

 

                                   

CITY CHARTER                              FRINGE BENEFITS                     SALARY REGULATIONS

Let’s not forget this quote from City Manager John Russo, “…as a child of immigrants with a scholarship Yale degree, and a top ten law school that I have to beg you to do and preserve what we all busted our tails to do to make this city move.”  “But I assure you, I might be here in two years, and whether you extend my contract or not I’m not going to have any trouble getting a job.  But if we vote no tonight, I cannot make any assurances to you about keeping this team together, that’s the reality that’s your choice!”  More famous words for us Riverside Hillbilly’s is, “You can’t afford to have this team break up!”  So what did Russo really mean?  “I’m am so brilliant I’m going to screw Mayor Bailey and the taxpayer out of millions of dollars and they are so stupid they won’t even notice, and my cronies and I can live our much-deserved lavish lifestyles free of interference from the unwashed masses.  Let them eat cake!”  Our bet is the only cake we’ll be eating, John, will be at your going away party.

RIVERSIDE’S CONTRACT-GATE: ONE QUESTION REMAINS

UPDATE: REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO MAYOR BAILEY’S OFFICE:  At the March 7, 2018, Riverside City Council meeting, Councilman Andy Melendrez requests an investigation into Mayor Bailey’s Office to determine if confidential materials related to the Mayor’s right to veto a contract of a City officer were released without Council authorization to the public.  Rumor has it this request involves the Mayor’s Office releasing the Colantuono Legal Opinion (and hence violating the City’s Attorney/Client privilege) prior to it becoming a public document a few weeks ago.  What? He’s requesting the formation of Special Counsel for this inquiry?  Does he think the City of Riverside river water is full of the same rats found in the swamps of Washington D.C.?  Shouldn’t have Andy requested Special Counsel to investigate the contract fraud Mr. Hunter speaks of instead?

As an aside we love how Andy is so nice and polite in this video right before he inserts the dagger of righteousness into the Mayor’s Office.  All of sudden, after all these years, Andy wants “transparency,” into the dirty deeds done dirt cheap within the confines of City Hall.  How marvelous!  Andy should have just called TMC: we’ve already done the investigation for free!  But alas, that’s for another day dear readers…

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

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TAXPAYERS: NOW PROUD OWNERS OF CITY MANAGER JOHN RUSSO’S HOUSE!

Posted: March 2, 2018 in Uncategorized
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Here is the home that you loaned $675,000 to City Manager John Russo at the exclusive, City-only rate of 1.35%  (or lower?) to keep him happy in Riverside.  We’re definitely going to be lining up for this rate at the Bank of Riverside, located at 3600 Main Street, and we suggest you do too.  But if you need check how your investment is maintaining itself, since you the taxpayers hold the property title, you can visit your asset at 7898 Whitegate Avenue, Riverside, California 92506.

But some sources are telling TMC also serves as a super secret City Hall II, since they see the vehicles of Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva and Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen many mornings at the residence.  Coffee must be better than the new vendor at City Hall we figure.  Are they having meetings as some have said, possibly scheming for the next agenda move or simply enjoying Russo’s pool?  Here are some of the home features you the taxpayers hold title to.

                       

“I’LL HAVE A MUCH BIGGER HOUSE IN RIVERSIDE!” (SUBSIDIZED BY THOSE INLAND EMPIRE HICKS)

CITY OF RIVERSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT REWARDED WITH DONATED DISNEY PASSES FROM THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH..DISNEYLAND?  Disneyland Resorts has donated 470 entrance passes to the Riverside Fire Department valued at $78,490.00, which of course, still needs Council approval before they can be accepted.   But residents are asking, “shouldn’t it go right back to the taxpayers?”  After all, we pay for the services of the Fire and the equipment used for their service.  While the City of Riverside is in a $603 Million pension deficit, shouldn’t they do their part in reimbursing the taxpayers.  Others, see the 470 passes in City hands open to abuse. But others are asking if the City of Riverside helped the City of Anaheim on a ‘mutual aid agreement?’  If the City of Anaheim didn’t pay for the cost, how much did it actually cost the taxpayer in regular time, over time and equipment cost?  About a year ago the City of Riverside Council approved a ‘cost recovery’ program.  For now, for example, in the Wood Streets Ward 1, if need a new parking permit because your curb outside your home is a zoned parking area, you must have a permit.  The permit use to be free to homeowners, now it cost them $30.00!

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE OR THIS LINK TO VIEW PDF VERSION

According to the City of Riverside Administrative Rule, “Employees shall not accept any gift, favor or other consideration, which might reasonably be construed as a conflict of interest and/or an attempt to influence their actions in their performance of their official duties.”  In the City of Los Angeles, City Officials are required to report any gift valued more than $50 on their Statement of Economic Interest.  I would imagine the same goes for City Officials in Riverside.

     

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

FROM THE DESK OF KEVIN DAWSON:  I just found this agenda item on the City of Riverside council agenda for next week. At first this sounds like a “isn’t that nice” story, but the more I’ve been thinking about it, the more I find it upsetting. The city has a rule that any gifts over $25,000, must be accepted by the council. OK, but that threshold is too low and vague ( we’ve herd stories over the years of city managers getting Christmas gifts of expensive liquor and such). But this agenda item is Disneyland giving 470 passes worth $78,000, so that each employee in the city fire department can receive two passes each. That’s a $340 gift to each employee. Why? It’s in appreciation for our city sending mutual aid to the City of Anaheim during the recent fires. The cost of that mutual aid, I think, is shouldered by the people of Riverside. We pay for those employees, their training and equipment. In fact we are taxing ourselves an extra 1% sales tax to purchase 14 new fire trucks. Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate for Disney to have made a donation toward the replacement cost of equipment used to fight the Anaheim fires? The city reports we have a staff of 211 full times firefighters. I don’t think we dispatched the entire department to Anaheim, so why is the whole department being gifted? I think firefighters are great, but they are well paid. They were well paid to go to Anaheim, and they used the resources of our city to do it, so just why should they be rewarded? Should Fire department management, who make exceptional income, be gifted? The optics of this looks really bad. If Disney is going to gift $340 to RFD non-responder’s, why not extend the gift to all city employees? For that matter, why not extend to all the tax payers who fund RFD?

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

EXCLUSIVE: CONTROVERSIAL RUTAN & TUCKER LEGAL OPINION ON MAYOR BAILEY’S VETO.

Posted: February 17, 2018 in Uncategorized
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CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGES TO VIEW RUTAN & TUCKER LEGAL OPINION GIVEN TO RIVERSIDE MAYOR RUSTY BAILEY

The following has yet to be thoroughly studied by TMC, but we present it here for your viewing pleasure:  the full legal opinion giving Mayor William Rusty Bailey the authority to veto an executive employment contract extension, such as the one passed by our City Council on Feb. 6, 2018, involving current City Manager John Russo.  The opinion is from Rutan & Tucker, L.L.C., who incidentally is also retained as the City’s law firm in other matters.  Exhibits to this legal opinion are as follows:

                                                          

CLICK ABOVE DOCUMENT IMAGES TO VIEW EXHIBITS

As of today, TMC is the only media source offering this full opinion to the public: we’ll let you decide its merits.

Of course, TMC must remind our readers that the reeeeeeal issue here is that when hustling Brad Hudson was City Manager he gave then Mayor Loveridge everything he ever wanted, including full access to staff.  Ditto ex-City Manager Scott Barber. John Russo came along and cut that access off from the Mayor’s office cold turkey.

And that is why Mayor’s Chief of Staff Cheryl-Marie Hansberger was at a recent Budget Engagement Commission Meeting a couple of weeks ago complaining about a lack of resources, and just-so-happened (wink) to also mention Russo’s contract extension and request more funding for the Mayor’s office.  At which point Rusty’s former Riverside Unified School District buddy colleague and deputy Superintendent Mike Fine picked up the ball and ran with it, mentioning how he knew the Mayor would never cause dissention in the ranks – it just wasn’t his style.  Team Russo, led by Assistant City Manager Natasha Fatale Marianna Marysheva, countered with, “I haven’t seen it!” referring to a divide between the Mayor’s office and the City Manager’s office.  But the rift between Mayor Bailey and City Manager Russo is evident, and IS personal, and that is the real story despite all the public statements to the contrary.

But that is not the story for today.  For we at TMC do not much care if Bailey rumbled, bumbled, or stumbled into the cockfight, as long as he’s on the right side.  After the Mayor’s veto the power struggle for control of City Hall really began in earnest, with both sides firing off volleys in what will surely be a donnybrook with only one side standing at the end.  City Attorney Gary Guess offers a summary of his legal opinion in the video above and now we give you the Mayor’s full legal opinion.  Only one can be right.  The Press Enterprise has had both legal opinions for weeks and as yet, has not published them…we at TMC can only imagine why!

So let’s talk about the City’s case for a second.  In December, after Bailey checked with Geuss to “confirm” that he had the power to veto Russo’s contract, Geuss asked attorney Michael Colantuono of Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley to weigh in with an “independent” opinion.  Colantuono offered that the mayor does not have that power.  “If the mayor could veto a contract for a charter officer, that officer would have an obvious incentive to take direction from the mayor and to seek his approval,” Colantuono wrote in a four-page analysis.  “That incentive is in tension with, if not fully inconsistent with, the Charter’s statement that charter officers ‘serve at the pleasure of the City Council.’”

Michael Colantuono, Esq.

Riverside City Attorney Gary Geuss still has yet to release Attorney Michael Colantuono’s opinion publicly that the Mayor cannot veto a executive staff member contract.  Geuss claims a conflict with Bailey’s use of the firm Rutan & Tucker on retainer with the City of Riverside, for using them for his legal opinion.  But is there another, perhaps larger conflict?  TMC has learned that back in 2006 Michael Colantuono contributed to John Russo’s State Assembly campaign in Northern California in an amount of $1,500?  Reminds us of the old adage: what a twisted tale we weave, when at first we try to deceive.  Yep, we may have trouble in River City!

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 17, 2018: PRESS ENTERPRISE: YEARS BEFORE VETOING RIVERSIDE CITY MANAGER’S CONTRACT, MAYOR VOTED FOR SIMILAR DEAL.

Is it possible to be a hypocrite and still correct at the same time?

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

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: DO WE HAVE TROUBLE IN RIVER CITY? JOHN RUSSO, MAN OF CON-FIDENCE?

Posted: February 13, 2018 in Uncategorized
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IT’S ALL ABOUT AUTOMATIC RAISES AND THOSE PESKY UNION PENSIONS…MORE TO COME…..

BLAST FROM THE PAST: CITY MANAGER JOHN RUSSO:

DECEMBER 19, 2007: SAN FRANCISCO GATE: OAKLAND CITY ATTORNEY GIVES HIMSELF A $28,000 RAISE

BLAST FROM THE PAST: FORMER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON:

OCTOBER 2, 2010: PRESS ENTERPRISE: RIVERSIDE MANAGER’S PAY RAISES EYEBROWS

RIVER CITY UPDATES:

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2018: RIVERSIDE MAYOR’S COLLEAGUES SKIP WEEKLY ‘TEAMWORK’ MEETING AFTER CONFLICT OVER HIS VETO.

HAPPY VALENTINES UPDATE: FEBRUARY 14, 2018: CITY MANAGER CONTRACT VETO CONFLICT DOMINATES CITY COUNCIL MEETING

DO WE HAVE TROUBLE, RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY?  WELL TROUBLE CAME AND LEFT IN THE FORM OF VIVIAN MORENO AT LAST NIGHT’S (2/13/18) CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

Incredible footage below of a real life con-man explaining the art of the con!  AT THE FEBRUARY 6, 2018 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCILMAN CHRIS MACARTHUR LECTURES COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS ON MAKING AN EMOTIONAL DECISION AS OPPOSED TO A LOGICAL ONE!  The decision of course in question was in reference to City Manager John Russo’s contract extension of 7 years, 2-1/2 years prior to his existing contract ending.  Has MacArthur made City Council decisions based on emotion over the past 12 years that he’s been on Council?  That would sure explain a lot.  Councilman Chris MacArthur is the Regional Vice-President of Primerica.  Is this how Chris does business?  As an investment adviser does Chris tell his clients that they should make emotional decisions with their money as oppose to a sound logical one?  Does he tell elderly widows to time the market in pork belly futures with their savings?  Is this how he invests other peoples’ money?

BANK OF RIVERSIDE: OPEN FOR BUSINESS.  WOULD YOU THE TAXPAYER LIKE A CRACK AT THE LOW, LOW, LOW RATE OF 1.35% TO BORROW MONEY ON YOUR HOME?  If they are doing this for executive staff, such as City Manager John Russo, and offering it to other public employees, shouldn’t the Bank of Riverside be open to the rest of the public?  Call your local Councilman for an appointment!  Remember, the taxpayers are taking the risk, not the City Manager with this home loan.  He gets the mortgage money from us, and we hold the title to his home until we are paid back in full…or not.  Who knows, the next thing you know the City of Riverside may also be selling gas too…(at least to their employees)

LATE UPDATE: AS OF 02.13.2018: RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL CLARIFIES DETAILS OF CITY MANAGER’S CONTRACT EXTENSION: AS RELEASED BY SPOKES HOLE PHIL PITCHFORD (FORMER PRESS ENTERPRISE REPORTER).  You know the City must be hearing it from outraged constituents as word of the new contract for our City Manager has gotten out.  This press release was issued to clarify the details of his contract, aka attempt to calm the savage Riverside taxpayer beast.  What our Council doesn’t get, is that this city manager’s salary, and other high roller salaries such as in police, fire and utilities…are just plain excessive!  Many of these coddled employees don’t pay but a portion of their pension, medical, life insurance (if they pay at all).  With car allowances and free public transportation, free Wifi and cell service, expense accounts for lunch and dinner, etc., they have fewer and subsidized expenses relative to the private sector and more free income to use their months of vacation, sick time, and administrative leave.  They are the new California Politburo.

Their claim is that the new City Manager’s contract is not much of an increase, but they conveniently miss the point.  Those salaries do not reflect the real world taxpayers have to live in and Riversiders are just not seeing the benefits of paying a such a compensation package to the City Manager.  Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva talks about the value that their team brings to River City, but what value really is that beyond words?  Her team has increased the cost-of living here dramatically – higher fees, taxes, and utility rates.  Are we instead paying the City Manager excessively because he’s figured out a way of soaking us, without the torches and pitchforks coming out (yet), in order to cover up the past ‘screw ups’ by our City?  We at TMC believe these guys just don’t know how to negotiate a deal, and have no concept of when to just walk away.  We know so when we hear Councilman Chris MacArthur lecturing another Council Member on how a decision should be made!  Don’t utilize logic in decision-making, use emotion!!!  How asinine is that?

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW FULL RESPONSE BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE TO THE TAXPAYER’S REGARDING DETAILS OF CITY MANAGER JOHN RUSSO’S CONTRACT EXTENSION

Will the taxpayers continue to bite the bullet from the pain of higher taxes?  Apparently so….

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

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