We think someone is going to get acquainted with Penal Code 488 and 490 real soon!
TO CATCH A THIEF. Thirty Miles defends the right to free political speech, such as the “PHONEY” signs being placed next to the “FALCONE”(Y) signs around town. Juveniles we are at heart, we got a kick out of the clever stunt. You don’t have to like it, but in our great country, you have to tolerate others’ rights to state their beliefs.
However, there are others who don’t believe in this fundamental right: they think it’s ok to suppress and censor others who disagree with them. Their goal is power, and at any cost including criminal actions, which they justify by rationalizing they are “right” and others are “wrong”. This elitist behavior is caused by the narcissistic belief that they are smarter, wiser, and just plain better than others. TMC, however, believes it’s a sickness – a mental illness of sorts.
And so we post this video, of a Phoney Falcone(y) crony caught red-handed in the act of stealing someone’s sign. And we offer a $100 reward for information leading to this person’s identity, which can be posted below this article in the comments section.
The fact this brazen act was committed in broad daylight by this idiot only shows you how Falcone(y)’s woke supporters don’t believe there will be any accountability for their illegal actions. Perhaps it’s Falcone(y)’s police union support that makes them so bold. Perhaps it’s why Falcone(y) and his ilk support Prop 47, which made thefts under $950 misdemeanors, and encourage smash and grab robberies that are harming our business community, and making our City much more dangerous for the law-abiding general public.
IF OSTENTATION IS THE SIGNAL FLAG OF HYPOCRISY, no one in this town holds a candle to former Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey, who just a week ago posted this gem on his Facebook page, which was reposted by Falcone(y) and his allies. The message being that placing a “PHONEY” sign was the political equivalent of running over nuns in the crosswalk with your Hummer. The exaggerated moral outrage was high comedy, with the usual gaggle of bootlicking conspirators filling in the comments section in support of the good-ole’-boy narrative.
Phoney Falcone(y) reposts former Mayor Rusty Bailey’s “say no to dirty politics” Facebook post
If we were to detail Rusty and his allies’ dirty politics over the past 15 years, we’d…we’d…well we actually did do that and it’s called THIRTY MILES OF CORRUPTION! So instead raking up all that muck (our readers can check our archives if they want) we thought we’d remind everyone of one of our favorites: the time Rusty’s own Dad (a former judge at that!), William R. Bailey II, was allegedly caught knocking over one of his son’s opponent’s campaign signs (aka, vandalism)! The irony. Yeah, SAY NO TO DIRTY POLITICS Rusty! Hah! You helped bring them to a new level in Riverside!
Team Falcone(y) and Team Bailey rally over a common enemy: other candidate’s campaign signs!
We at TMC call on Ward 1 City Council candidate Phil Falcone to publicly name the thief (no, you are not eligible for the reward), state whether your campaign condoned such actions, and if not, condemn the actions of this individual. Prepare to be boarded Phil: our email is on its way.
Despite some belief to the contrary, theft is still a crime in California:
And if this idiot and his possible allies were stupid enough to steal several signs, it could very well escalate to felony grand theft…uh oh!
UPDATE 2/26/24: TMC asked Mr. Falcone(y) about the criminal acts caught in the video. Despite Falcone(y)’s “24-hour promise”, still no response.
Another broken promise by Phoney Falcone(y)? We’re constituents of Ward 1 Phil! Not off to a good start on your “24-hour promise”… is this how you plan on treating the “little” people?
Now for the outro …
TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST EVERYTHING, INACCURATE, RACIST, A.K.A “THIRTY MILES OF CR-P,” RACIST, “LATINO WHITE SUPREMACIST SITE,” “SITE IS A JOKE,” “RACIST,” “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” DID WE MENTIONED WE HAVE BEEN LABELED RACIST?, “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. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE CANNOT TRUST THE ACLU THESE DAYS ANYWAY! 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
COOKIE MONSTER:“Let me get this straight, you had the opportunity to vote on lower trash rates, but instead voted for higher rates; and now you are hiding, wondering why the ratepayers are out with their pitchforks and torches?”
Yep folks, Cookie Monster couldn’t have said it better. Back at a City Council Meeting on January 14, 2020, Taxpayers were presented a Consulting Report which suggested that outsourcing may actually lower cost to the ratepayers and should be considered. What was also said during the meeting was that any displaced city employees as a result of any transitional changes would be guaranteed employment!
UPDATE BY ANONYMOUS COMMENTER REGARDING THE TRASH ISSUE: CAN ANYONE CONFIRM THE TRUTH OF THIS STATEMENT? SIDOTI IF YOU OUR ARE OUT THEIR THERE CAN YOU COMMENT ON THIS?
“One of the problems with the solid waste department is that they are on a incentive program. If they get done with there route early they get to go home! Meanwhile trash cans are laying all over the street and extra trash not being picked up. They run there routes differently each time to finish quickly and go home early and get paid for a full days work. Instead of them going back out there and help on other routes and pick up the palm branches that are littered throughout the city. Going back to helping out how is it that I’ve seen trucks out late while the team leaders that are making 5% more than a regular driver, isn’t out there helping to finish the route? That’s a total waste of taxpayers money. Solid waste management should be held accountable. There’s no reason why this departments over time is through the roof. You should look into the dump feed to they’ve gone up and the recycling is joke there’s no one being held accountable why is it that 40% of the recycling goes to the trash increasing the city’s dumping fees.”
While the taxpayer is asking for a logical and reasonable answer from their newly elected council for their vote of no consideration, instead it appears they listened to their handlers, possibly the unions, and of course, made an unsustainable economic decision, which will in essence cost the taxpayers more!
With the City of Riverside facing ‘insolvency’ in the next couple of years, a term that may not be familiar to the new Democratically owned local council if you look at their 460’s. But seriously folks, we are serious. We at TMC have been talking about this since 2012.
While this nonsense was going on, Councilman Chuck Condor gave credence to the position that the City of Riverside, in fact, can save money by outsourcing to privately controlled companies. Again folks, this isn’t personal, it is just plain business! But others may think differently.
As with former Councilman Chris MacArthur who literally stated how to vote on an important financial issue. You need to think of issues that concern the city ’emotionally’ as opposed to ‘logically!’ This in regarding to solving City issues, go figure! But thanks to Councilman Chuck Condor, who brought logic to the forefront to tell us simply, this was a bad deal for the taxpayer! I guess this leaves former Councilman Chris MacArthur possibly eating his words?
Incredibly, a union leader that represents the trash collectors pleaded to the council, that their employees live here and spend money within the city, as if the same employees hired by a private sector company would not? So Private Sector Employed don’t care about their families as much as Union Sector Employed?
Michael Sidoti, Senior Solid Waste Operator for the City of Riverside, states an Public Comment, “Privatization is not the answer!” Again his salary is paid by the taxpayers, but his loyalties appear otherwise. The City of Riverside is on that very same road as the City of San Bernardino. What will become of his salary when the City reaches insolvency? He states, “we have always had a constant battle with competitors,” I’m assuming those in the private sector are seemingly a problem? I believe it is known in economics as “competition” in a free market.
(click image above to enlarge the three weeks worth of garbage on Magnolia next to RCC)
Ward 1 Resident Response: “Right here on Magnolia the street sweepers came again for the third time and the leaves just get shoved up on my curb and the branches scattered. There is a huge gully of water and leaves that stink terribly. Nobody has picked up all the palm branches on this end of Magnolia. I do not want to get hit by a car by going out and getting all of this picked up. Who do I call? Frustrated.”
Well, some in the community are wondering where are you Mr. Sidoti when it comes to your back yard? Mr. Sidoti, what you preached at public comment that day, is not accurate. I went to check on this issue, the problem still remains after three weeks! I don’t get it, I’ve seen the City of Riverside Code Enforcement viciously cite tax paying residents for ridiculous property violations, but they allow homeless to go wild on Massachusetts Avenue within the City of Riverside. What gives?
But what should we consider, a partisan Democratic Huddled Of Four That Stick Together? Do they commune for a common agenda? I believe they should all have the opportunity to explain their current positions. If the constituents were misinformed, those elects, should tell the constituents their true affiliation, their party agenda and their true positions on current issues. We have the right to know! Because many in our community didn’t know this. TMC attempts to be balanced, but we must bring out the facts which are brought forward to us. We always welcome counter responses and comments. But the following doesn’t optically look good when you view the following.
(click image above to enlarge)
These are the New Faces of the Highly Campaigned Riverside City Council, which were financed heavily by the Democratic Party and Union Representatives. Was this a false representation of the what are non-partisan representative government was to embody? Regardless, did the Fav Four vote in unison? Without the actual real money cost to the taxpayer in mind? Further, this included Veteran Councilman Jim Perry, who failed to investigate the trash financials. Maybe if looked into, their could have been cost overruns within refuse that could have been directly dealt with.
In 2019, the City realized that to continue their standard trash collection operations, a large capital investment would soon be needed. Subsequently, Council hired this Consultant Group to study the pros and cons for the City and its residents/ businesses, if trash service was to be privately out-sourced completely. The following is the full City Council Meeting on this Trash Issue.
On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, that Consultant Report came before Council (below). Although the report recommended issuing a non-binding RFP (Request For Proposal) to determine whether the private market would be a better alternative to consider going forward, the Council decided (5-2 Conder and Melendrez dissenting) to instead study the cost of bringing all trash service in-house. Meaning, the City of Riverside will be responsible for all trash pick up within the City. With insolvency around the corner, this means the City or ratepayers must now pick up the tab for 20 new trash trucks, 20 new drivers, cost of maintaining those trucks, proper maintenance of a dumping ground, new responsibility for employee pensions etc. This is a new cost the City cannot afford. Even the City of San Bernardino was smart enough to consider privately sourced trash pick up.
Just recap, rates were last raised by 9.5% for residential curb-side pick up back in January 2019. The consultant made a point to note that another 20% rate increase would be needed soon, if additional out-sourcing was not considered. It was not considered. During Council discussion on this issue, various Council members made comment that the primary consideration should be City Union jobs, the rate increases were secondary. If not inconsequential to the discussion, despite oral commitments from the private haulers to offer jobs to all displaced City workers.
This current increase would mean an additional $3.12 to $5.37 to each household on a monthly basis. This is what your Democratic Pro-Union Council voted on. Local government was never meant to be partisan, it hurts the tax payer. There votes will always have the Party and the Union in mind. What we have is a Union and DNC bought for council, who will give the illusion that they represent the greater good of the community, but in essence, represent the greater good of those who financially supported them.
TMC has known since 2012 according to City documents, that the City of Riverside would be staring into the abyss of a massive budget deficit in 2016, the City ignored us. In the next five months we will begin to see this shortfall come to fruition. While council is obsessed with union bugs and removing campaign opponents, their focus should by on escalating debt which will very well lead our City to insolvency in the coming years. Question is do our newly elected council have the skills necessary and understanding of municipal economics in order resolve complicated financial issues? For example, the consultant noted that Riverside’s refuse rates are not high enough to meet expenses. Councilman Ronaldo Fierro stated if they are not high enough, then we need to charge more, that will take care of the deficit. That’s the ticket, charge more! Fierro didn’t even conceive of why trash refuse rates were escalating to begin with, go figure.
The same is true for our gargantuan unfunded pension liability. We have no financial leeway because the previous City Council maxed out our credit cards (debt) during the Great Recession and made no attempt to pay any of it back. It is becoming clearer by the week that the Council as a body nor the Mayor have no appetite to take on the most powerful special interest in town, who just happens to be their largest campaign contributors, our public employees and their unions. These are the same people who already have put 40% of Measure Z in their pockets. If the trend continues to play out as this example of increased trash rates, expect higher fees and rates with perhaps another tax (or even the sale of our publicly owned utility) on the ballot in the near future, while receiving fewer and degrading City services. Expect inappropriate development and City takeover of other non-traditional industries (Fox Theater, Food Lab, fiber optics, etc.) to satisfy a never-ending thirst for more dollars.
Expect exotic financial instruments like pension obligation bonds to steal from Riverside’s future in order to guarantee benefits to our employees that there is simply no comparison for in the private sector. While many of us were asleep, the City turned into an employment agency in lieu of a service agency, with this vote. If you don’t like what you’re reading, I urge you to call your elected representative to let your positions known!
Even after insolvency, San Bernardino outsourced their refuse collection to save money. There’s no doubt that Trash is Cash, but asking the Taxpayer to pay more Cash for their Trash is evidently questionable!
VOTE NO ON MEASURE A: NEW COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOND SCAM: WILL INCREASE YOUR TAXES APPROXIMATELY $50.00 PER 100K OF YOUR HOME VALUE! If your home has a value of $400K, you will have an additional property tax of $200.00 on your tax bill! Of course, the “YES ON MEASURE A” crowd would be embarrassed to tell you this. Remember the other school bond scam Measure O? It was all about needed school repairs. Now they diverted funds by a so called stacked community oversight committee to build new schools. Again, here is another propaganda message fitted to hit your emotions. Again fake and misleading information. Prior propaganda messages was about educating the children, well they are college adults! Now it’s about Vets! What will they think of next? Little do they know that Vet’s are already covered by the GI Bill!
PUBLIC SECTOR EXCESSES CONTRIBUTING TO WASTEFUL AND EXCESSIVE SALARIES BAND INSANE PENSION PAYOUTS?
Let’s take a look at City salary abuses, which would never occur in the Private Sector, because it is there money. But if it is not your money, well that may be a different story as in the case of Police Lieutenant Gary Leach who receives a total pay and benefits package of $450,895.70, in the real world this is unsustainable, good reason why the City of Riverside is heading toward insolvency. Lt. Leach base pay is $142, 031.10, how does it escalate to almost a half a million dollars? Folks, just to let you know this is not an isolated incident! He received $6,946.70 in Over Time (Just for the record, my Private Sector Boss would kill me if he saw this), he then receives $224, 467.70 in Other Pay? What the hell is this? Then an insane Benefit Package of $76, 895.30. Food for thought. I simply don’t know anyone who gets this amount in the private sector, without at least bringing double the cost savings in that salary to the company. Is Lt. Leach bring the taxpayer close to a half a million dollars in saving to the taxpayer? I don’t think so.
(click image above to enlarge)
The people of Riverside have the right to go to sleep at night, knowing their representatives have their best interest at heart, not of those who may have supported them financially with special interest at heart.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE TRASH ISSUE COME FORWARD, WITH FORMER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON CONTROLLING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT VIA THE COUNCIL AND STAFF BACK IN 2014!
(click image above 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
Riverside Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey speaks during his State of the City Address, on Thursday, Jan 25, 2018, wearing his ever-present rose-colored glasses.
JANUARY 2018: AN “ECONOMICALLY STRONG REGION”? WHAT IS PERCEPTION AND WHAT IS REALITY WHEN IT COMES TO LIVABILITY WITHIN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, AND WHAT NARRATIVE IS CREATED FOR GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS? WAS IT DONE BY DESIGN AND CONTRIVED IN THIS YEARS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS?
Well when you utilize UCR your going to get what you pay for, favorable numbers. We saw this with RPU’s attempt to fudge numbers and use comparisons such as private and public, which is like comparing apples and oranges. But if you have those rose-colored glasses, what a rosy picture it will show.
Hmmm…but wasn’t this the same UCR that compared apples and oranges in order to ratepayers to pay more for utilities? Evidently so.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Here’s the lowdown: RPU commissioned at a cost of $72,000 of ratepayer dough a research team at UCR, to determine the financial and social impact of RPU on the Riverside community. It’s a little-known-fact that UCR procures its electricity and water at special lower rates from RPU than what the rest of us suckers, the community pays, leading some to wonder if tit-for-tat was in play. Shockingly (sic), the crack team at UCR determined that RPU was the greatest thing since adding that third taco to the combination plate. How uncanny that this report was timed to come out right before RPU was to call for a rate increase! Remarkable was a hand-written comment from General RPU Manager Girish Balachandran (a.k.a. Drunk Daddy) made while reviewing a draft of this UCR report. The note was in reference to numbers the UCR team gave comparing RPU with another utility company known as SoCal Edison. We will get to that Drunk Daddy chicken scratch in a moment.
But there were a lot of other things of concern that should have been mentioned that were not so rosy for the resident taxpayer and utility ratepayers, such as:
In general, complaints concerning difficulty with planning permits, code enforcement, lack of law enforcement response, increase crime, increase homeless in the neighborhood, increase property taxes, increase utility rates, increasing unfunded pension liabilities, increase sale taxes, increase taxes and regulations…. all continue on deaf ears by representatives.
Higher electric and water utilities passed and we own the public owns the utilities! Go figure… all we can tell you is that individuals who seek justice for taxpayer concerns have tied the City’s exuberance in court.
Less Law Enforcement Protection, police won’t even respond to resident calls anymore, even with higher taxes! What are they telling us, come to Riverside BYOG (Bring Your Own Gun)? Beatings and shooting in downtown. We had a drug transaction incident three houses from us on Friday March 30, 2018; RPD wasn’t even interested.
UPDATE: PROSTITUTION RING IN ACTION: 1:26 A.M.: 3564 BANDINI AVENUE: GIRL PICK UP: WHITE FORD TRUCK: ARMED WOOD STREETS RESIDENTS ON IT..RPD NOT.. SORRY MIKE, HOPE WE DIDN’T DISTURBED YOUR RIVERSIDE SUPERVISOR CAMPAIGN.
Fire, won’t get involved with creating fire lines and cleaning up City lots, but will definitely cite you for what they consider ‘fire hazards’ unannounced in your place of business or home. The city has unfortunately pitted the taxpayers against those who apparently protect us, our law enforcement and fire.
Code Enforcement…A.K.A. The Other Police Force….Well, this is without saying, if you don’t pay the piper, you will be harassed till kingdom come.
Increased crime and homelessness in our communities, that is without saying. Our mail is being stolen, drug houses, prostitution rings. Not in the so called bad parts of town, in the ‘Wood Streets’! The City has simply indulged in programs that are simply inviting homeless to come to Riverside. Taxpayers are now seeing tent city’s around town and now have to get use to finding more human feces in retail public places.
What about public employee pensions? Measure A and Measure Z won’t generate enough money to maintain those employee pensions, therefore, will we eventually have to sell our Public Utilities in order to satisfy the unfunded unsustainable pension debt?
So should the City continue to financially support educational and statistical entities for services that may be biased? What is the purpose of that? To support a perception of things, whereby in essence the reality is much different? Is it to say, “All is well!” while the Titanic is apparently sinking? Discernibly addressing true problems with true resolutions would surely be the key.
If you want the truth hidden and a prettier city, get your own pair of rose colored glasses, on Amazon $39.27 and free shipping! They’ll just make your walk in the City of Riverside that much rosier. The people of Riverside certainly hope that after taking a stand on the City Manager’s new contract by vetoing it, Mayor Bailey will continue to abide by the issues and concerns of the taxpaying residents and put a stop to the above nonsense. You made a stand Mayor, you have our attention, and the now the whole City is Watching…
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
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?
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.
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.)
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!
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.
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
At the tail end of the March 7, 2018, Riverside City Council meeting, Ward 2 Councilman Andy Melendrez requested an investigation into Mayor Bailey’s Office to determine if confidential materials related to the Mayor’s right to veto a contract of a City officer (i.e. the City Manager) were released to the public without Council authorization.
QUIET, UNASSUMING, NICE GUY ANDY ABOUT TO SINK THE KNIFE INTO MAYOR BAILEY?
Skip forward to this week and we learn that item has been mysteriously removed from the upcoming City Council agenda. Was it delayed because of the conflict-of-interest with Riverside City Attorney Gary Geuss, as identified in fine detail as part of Mayor Bailey’s writ of mandate filed just over a week ago? Was there a scheduling conflict on behalf of one of the key parties? Or, like the free-riding Press Enterprise as of late, is the City of Riverside simply waiting for TMC to publish the results of its investigation saving taxpayers gobs of money (if you believe the latter, we have a library to sell you)? Well, we won’t disappoint then (i.e. keep reading)!
But first let’s take a look at the Bailey writ, and the fact that our City Attorney obtained a legal opinion from outside, supposedly-independent counsel, Michael Colantuono, in order to justify quashing the Mayor’s veto. The writ states that the Colantuono opinion is beneficial to the City Attorney because the Charter provides that the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney, “serve at the pleasure of the Council.” And if Mayor Bailey can’t veto City Manager Russo’s contract, then you can bet he wouldn’t be able to veto City Attorney Geuss’ either. And since Geuss chose the outside counsel himself, he might’ve just chosen someone he knew beforehand might be sympathetic to his cause. And hence the conflict.
And why might Mr. Colantuono’s judgment regarding this particular issue be perceived as just a tad bit biased? Well, maybe it’s the fact that he serves as a contracted City Attorney himself up in the Bay Area!
CLICK TO ENLARGE: THE GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY’S CLUB
In the alternative, Geuss could’ve just provided the City Council with a list of attorneys capable of handling this work and said, “I’m out. Have at it boys.” But, stealing a line from Jason Hunter, “the unofficial slogan of the City of Riverside is that there’s no conflict-of-interest that’s too big that we can’t ignore,” instead he inserted himself right into the middle of controversial decision in which he has a financial interest…and that we predict ladies and gentlemen is going to lead to trouble down the line…right here in the ole’ River City.
Once again, TMC will save the day (and $10-$25K of the taxpayers’ moola) on this one: THE MAYOR DID IT…in the new Library…by throwing a Wrench into Team Russo’s plans. And below, we provide for everyone to see: the Mayor leaked the Attorney/Client-protected outside legal opinion of Michael Colantuono to anyone he thought could lend a revolver, lead pipe, rope, knife, candlestick, hand.
The statement also rejects the idea that anyone but the city attorney “be permitted to obtain counsel at taxpayers’ expense.”
Before announcing his veto of Russo’s contract, Bailey received a letter from attorney Philip Kohn of Rutan & Tucker to back his opinion that — despite City Attorney Gary Geuss’ position — the charter allows the mayor to veto a contract with the city manager.
Kohn wrote to Bailey on Feb. 9 that he had been told the city charter doesn’t allow the mayor to hire legal counsel without the City Council’s consent. To avoid any conflict, Kohn wrote, he would not charge the city for any of the services he provided or provide any further legal advice on the matter.
UPDATE 3/26/18: RUTAN & TUCKER USED AS A SUCKER? BELOW IS THE LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 9, 2018, SENT TO MAYOR BAILEY AFTER REALIZING THEIR FIRM WAS PUT IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION POSITION BY THE MAYOR. LawyerPhilip Kohn states that his firm will not be providing any further legal opinions or assistance on the veto matter since the Riverside City Charter does not authorize the Mayor to hire outside legal counsel without approval or consent from City Council. After realizing that their firm had a conflict-of-interest with the City itself, for whom they provide lucrative outside counsel work, they indicate the Mayor’s legal advice was at ‘no charge’…so as to not muddle up their taxpayer gravy train.
Did Mayor Bailey consider allowing a proxy to file a lawsuit on his behalf while he sat in closed session, and based upon his record, leaked out more confidential information in order to benefit himself politically? You betcha. Just look in the “Rusty Files.”
And you know what, Andy Melendrez? Nobody cares. Nobody cares because – intentionally or not, William “Beetle Bailey,” through his entirely selfish (John Russo is a meanie…wahhh!!!), unethical actions is going to end up cleaning the Riverside Swamp of profiteer-bureaucrats/wannabe-politicians, and we’re just fine with that. We’ll deal with Beetle later.
NOTHING BUT CLEAR SKIES FOR MAYOR “BEETLE BAILEY” AHEAD
And in an ironic twist not lost on Riverside corruption historians, a central figure in the Soubirous-Davis witchhunt of just 3-1/2 years ago accused of leaking information to the Press Enterprise at the time, will be outed soon as the, “man behind the scenes,” organizing his own kangaroo court on our dime…but that story about that Councilman (codenamed: M.S.) is for another day. In the meantime, enjoy the Peoples’ Councilman, good guy-turned bad guy-turned good guy again, Ward 4 Councilman Chuck Conder…and the circle of life continues.
VIDEO FROM THE INLAND EMPIRE NEWSWIRE: RIVERSIDE COUNCILMAN CHUCK CONDER GIVES SOME INSIGHT INTO THE GOING ON’S AT CITY HALL.
Councilman Chuck Conder says it stinks at City Hall! Outlandish city contracts and ridiculous utility rate hikes are ripping off the citizenry!! It’s time for people to “let their voice be heard,” he says in a passionate speech last Monday.The city manager lavish new contract comes on the heels of a proposed average 3% hike in electricity and 4.5% hike in water that will begin July 1, 2018, and continue for 5 years, with 1/5 of the hike consisting of new taxes, to cover budget shortfalls for infrastructure projects we are sold told. Add to that the city’s $600 million pension liability debt, and ever-increasing taxes to pay for it, and it begs the question: should the city manager be paid 25% more from the public purse and businesses and residents feel the pinch of a higher-cost-of-living and less government services? These financial decisions have one councilman, Chuck Conder, concerned.
When Moreno Valley activist and local radio host Roy Bleckert asked Conder what can be done, Conder delivered a passionate speech stating, “You need to take back your government…They’re laughing at us… They’re saying ‘got away with this one…with that one.’ We as a people have got to get our voice back! If you can give up three minutes in front of the city council, great. If you can’t, send an e-comment, write. Let your voice be heard.”
BLAST FROM THE PAST: 02.23.2016: Local community activist Kevin Dawson skewers City Council regarding the failure to address outside legal counsel without contracts and the budget deficit! Ignored by Council, ignored by the City Attorney Greg Priamos and ignored by head of the Finance Committee Councilwoman and current Budget Engagement Commissioner (sigh) Nancy Hart…. Dawson was right all along!
DEDICATED TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE PARTNERSHIP COMPENSATION MODEL
TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTY’S MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “POLITICALLY INCORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com
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’ hustlerformer 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.
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.
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.
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
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
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).
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.
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
UPDATE: 02.22.2018: At last night’s City Council meeting, a statement was read regarding Council support of City Attorney Gary Geuss’s legal opinion against the Mayor’s veto power of executive staff contracts, supported by Attorney Michael Colantuono’s original legal opinion. Colantuono will prepare an additional written statement for the unwashed masses (us) stating something to that effect within 7 days.
STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL:
“By Majority vote, The Council supports the City Attorney as the sole legal authority under the Charter and we reject any suggestion that any other charter officer or elected official be permitted to obtain counsel at taxpayer’s expense. The majority of the City Council, excluding Councilmember Conder and Councilmember Perry, (Councilmember Adams was absent) reaffirms the statements of the City Attorney, during the February 6, 2018 Council Meeting, that the sole remedy for the Mayor, is to file a writ with the Superior Court. The Charter is plain, that the three Charter Officers report to, work for and take direction from The Council, not the Mayor. No one can have two bosses and work efficiently. We have asked outside Counsel to prepare a written version of his advice, suitable to be shared with the public within 7 days.”
Yep, I gave him a couple of bucks and some time, so what’s the big deal? You have a problem with that?
What was that ‘non-monetary’ contribution of $1,374.38 to Russo’s Campaign? Sandwiches? Legal Advice? WE ALSO HAVE RIVERSIDE’S LAW FIRM BEST, BEST & KRIEGER WHO APPARENTLY WERE CONTRIBUTORS OF $2,000.00 TO JOHN RUSSO’S 2006 ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN! MORE TO COME…
Is TMC becoming relevant when it comes to sources for Press Enterprise articles? That’s okay.. will you at least pay us the freelance rate? Oop’s here it is in all it’s glory.. the Colantuono legal opinion on Mayor Bailey’s veto power. Colantuono cites City Charter Section 600 and Section 700. His legal interpretation is that the Mayor cannot veto a Council decision on the employment of a charter officer.
Councilman Mike Gardner, Ward 1, said during the meeting that the veto issue was distracting the city from important business. Love when I hear this..it couldn’t be the important business of the taxpaying residents having to deal with pot holes, uncut trees, drug houses, prostitution, shoot outs, burglaries, threats to neighbors, mail theft, theft in general, car break in’s, home break in’s, inundation of homeless into our neighborhoods, etc. etc..
Will Mike Gardner’s unpopular votes in favor of Russo’s contract and against the Mayor’s power to veto sink his chances at County Board of Supervisors? Magic 8-ball says…definitely maybe.
The question remains, what happens if the courts uphold Mayor Bailey’s Veto? Will the Russo’s contract be rescinded? If it is, how those who pushed against Bailey fare in the future? Those such as the City Council, City Attorney Gary Geuss and those that are subcontracted with the taxpayer’s monies to support a ‘legal opinion,’ such as the ‘high priced’ lawyer Michael Colantuono…. which incidentally, an attorney the Moreno’s went against in care of the taxpayers and won. Let’s give credit where credit’s due…
According to the Press Enterprise, When Council members responded with their thoughts and some additional questions at Tuesday’s City Council, Geuss said city officials should not reply because neither Russo’s contract nor the veto was on the agenda. The state’s public meeting law, the Brown Act, limits what topics the council may discuss without putting it on the agenda in advance. Because the Council neeeeeeeeever violates the Brown Act….laughing out loud. Really Geuss?
Our Mayor, the proverbial hero, fighting for truth, justice and Riversidian way, preparing to dive from the seventh floor of City Hall to fight evil and protect the wallets and pocketbooks his people.
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
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.
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!
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
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?
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
IG
Javier Moreno
TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption 