TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

With the broom of justice sweeping the dirt of Riverside Public Utilities out the back door of the ratepayers’ new $40 million administrative building (complete with $600k board room with $120k of furniture), we find another one who has bitten the dust.  The housecleaning continues in earnest with the resignation of Deputy General Manager Kevin Milligan (a.k.a. Drunk Daddy Jr.) Tuesday.

First, lets all understand the origins of the nickname ‘Drunk Daddy’.  This endearing term was coined by the staff at RPU for their boss, General Manager Girish Balachandran.  To be clear, it does not connote a drinking problem per se, but that you would never know what kind of mood he would come with when he started the day, putting the line staff on edge, and leading to mass defections of talent from our public utility within the past year.  Pictured above, you see the dynamic duo high-fiving after they attempted to strong-arm our neighbors to the west, the City of Norco, over a potential water deal.

What IS evident by the following is that neither knew what the other was doing in their final days in full command.  In Balachandran’s departure speech, he states that Milligan will be taking over as Interim General Manager:

Once I leave, Kevin Milligan will be appointed as Interim General Manager. The City Manager has also retained a recruiter to initiate a nation wide search for a replacement General Manager and expects to fill the position not later than June 2018.

Hmmmm…..But then Balachandran only days later releases the following:

Dear RPU Team Member

Kevin Milligan has announced his retirement as of December 29, 2017:

Here is Kevin’s email that he requested I send to all of you.

“Colleagues,

After 33 years with the City of Riverside, I have elected to retire effective this month.

It has been an honor to work alongside each of you these past many years, collectively dedicated to building a better community.

I will be spending the balance of this month enjoying the holidays with my wife and children. I will work with the executive team to schedule a time after the New Year holiday for a very informal farewell.

I wish you all continued success professionally and personally. I am proud to reflect on what we have accomplished together at RPU.

God Bless,
Kevin

Girish was then told Todd Jorgenson will be interim General RPU Manager by City Manager John Russo when he leaves:

The City Manager has appointed Todd Jorgenson as the Interim General Manager, on my departure January 19.

Assistant City Manager Marianna Marysheva will be working with Todd and our executive team to assist during the interim period.

A press release with more information is attached. In the coming days and next week, starting with the Safety meetings tomorrow morning at the UOC, I’ll visit each of your office locations to be available to answer any questions you may have.

Please call me if you have questions.

Thank you,
Girish

What is the real story here?  Surely Balachandran told Milligan he would be christened interim RPU General Manager when he left and Milligan consented.  If that was the case, what happened from that point on?  Now we find he is retiring?  Guess these kinds of things happen during the chaos surrounding an unconditional surrender.

LEFT HANGING?

The questions residents are asking about their public utilities: what has really been going on over there and who was actually minding the store during the colossal failure of Balachandran’s tenure, culminating with a completely botched rate hike? Would Milligan like a mulligan over his support of Drunk Daddy, and was he left hanging by City brass? And, who’s next on the chopping block?  Stay tuned to TMC for the latest and greatest on the unfolding drama.

TMC EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF RIVERSIDE CITY MANAGER JOHN RUSSO’S MEETING WITH SOON-TO-BE-EX-GENERAL MANAGER GIRISH BALACHANDRAN JUST BEFORE ANOTHER BOTCHED ATTEMPT AT A RATE HIKE TWO WEEKS AGO:

 

And speaking of recycled trash bureaucrats that have overstayed their welcome, is it time for the last of the disastrous legacy of former City Manager Brad Hudson to finally go…Chief Sergio Diaz?

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