PROFESSOR PLUM IN THE LIBRARY WITH THE CANDLESTICK
You simply can’t make this stuff up – even Harvey Weinstein couldn’t have concocted a better storyline! But back in October of 2012 community activist Karen Wright exceeded the 3-minute rule for public comment at a City Council meeting and was subsequently arrested. And then the “who-dun-it?” game began.
Who had the authority to call for the arrest? The Riverside Police Department pointed their finger at our former City Attorney, Greg Priamos. Priamos pointed back at the RPD officer in attendance. It was great theater, as all parties tried to deflect their own involvement in a story in which they couldn’t control the message: the intimidation of critics of the powers-that-be that were running the ship aground. (And how do we posit that? Well, Measure Z, of course! … but more on that later)
KCAL 9 reporter Greg Mills would quote former Mayor Loveridge that, “he’s never seen somebody arrested for exceeding the 3 minute limit,” in an apparent attempt to distance himself from the fracas. Since the Mayor didn’t want to talk to anyone on camera (and answer questions that might implicate himself), the Mayor’s Spokeshole declared, “that for now on, the only person that could demand somebody be arrested at a City Council Meeting, is the Chairperson of the City Council…. that Chairperson…is the Mayor.” Haha! But we’ve always known who the guilty party was (and it wasn’t Ms. Wright, whom the DA would bring no charges against), and the great reveal is below.
Fast forward to May of 2014 and we find former Mayor Ron Loveridge making public comment in City Council chambers and exceeding the 3-minute limit rule. Current standing Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey nervously succumbed to his wishes and allowed him to continue speaking as seen in the above video. Strangely [sic], the meeting wasn’t stopped, the speaker wasn’t interrupted, the buzzer didn’t go off, and gasp, Ronny wasn’t cuffed and stuffed.
Residents in OUR City of Riverside have become sick and tired of the two sets of rules in our community, and are aware of what seems to be a culture of entitlement amongst those that believe they are the ruling elite. Despite the disparate treatment, we do not buy into their vision of a caste system, of peasants and elites. We scoff at the notion that we need to live up to their standards in order to be accepted into their high society cultured class so that our opinions may count…an attitude exemplified by former Mayor Loveridge, and enabled by current Mayor Bailey. Mayor Loveridge certainly was treated as if he was better than Ms. Wright…and in true California fashion, style won over substance. Elitism and entitlement of old school Riverside families, trumps normal families.
RETURN TO SENDAI, AUTHORITY UNKNOWN
Back on March 22, 2011 Riverside City Council unanimously, with the support of then Mayor Loveridge, transferred $100,000 from the public general fund to the Sendai Relief Fund. The question then became, can a public entity contribute a gift of public funds to another, even if it is for a good cause? As a general rule, you can only give away to others what you own. But by definition funds owned by the city are public, and elected and appointed officials are stewards of those funds.
Article XVI, section 6 of the California Constitution undeniably prohibits gifts of public funds, therefore the City of Riverside gifting $100,000 of public funds to Sendai was illegal. Voluntary individual contributions by elected and appointed officials and other persons would have been the legal way of raising appropriate relief funds to gift to Sendai. Rules and regulations have been developed for a reason: to prevent taxpayer fund abuse. The State constitution is very clear: there must be a direct or primary public purpose and benefit to the public at large when general funds are used to avoid being a gift.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Rather then going with the rule of law, the Mayor never advised the Council that this would be violation, and further, he never asked the advice of then-City Attorney Greg Priamos. But that is beside the point, because even if anyone knew the rule of law within City Hall, they would’ve turned a blind eye to it… because that was how the City and the Mayor rolled/rolls with your money.
LAST TANGO IN PERRIS
Let’s not to mention Former Mayor Loveridge’s predilection for young students! As former Mayor Terry Frizzel stated at a November 13, 2012 City Council Meeting. So what was this predilection for young students that has also been the talk in closed circles? Maybe UCR needs to open up an investigation on the current professor.
Former Mayor Terry Frizzel shocked the crowd at this City Council Meeting and had much to say about Mayor Ron Loveridge and his behavior with young students:
The thing that really, really, really, disappoints me.. is our mayor tells us that we have to make our city a better place to live, he preached that on his nights out (Mayor’s Night Out Event)…and then for him to do what he did was unfounded (the arrest of public speaker Karen Wright). You should never ever take away the liberty and freedom of speech. And you were a political science professor?
How would you have liked it when your wife went up to UCR and complained about your running around with some of the students up there. Would you like it if the police had carried her out of there. No you wouldn’t have! .. and I was right there and saw that you had young students in your car driving around that campus when I was first got elected here.
You have no purity, you have no conscious, you are there just to be a big shot… and that’s all you ever try to be. You don’t care about the people of this community or you would never had said the things that you’ve said. I’m totally disgusted there was no reason for what you did to Karen. I wish I would have been here, because you would have never had let you get away with this..
And you Mr. Davis, I stuck up for you when you were being put on the carpet, because you had every right to be heard and they tried to shut you up.
What’s the matter with you people, what’s the matter with you, and he (Mayor), he makes the word that you can’t be like Terry Frizzel and veto stuff. He (Mayor) didn’t like the manner of my operation. But I can tell you one thing. (gasp from mayor Loveridge in the background).
Mayor, when Ab Brown came up to this podium, you sent me notes, shut em up, shut em up.. and I would send you notes, no, he has the right to speak.
When Karen Renfroe came up here, you said shut her up, shut her up, no..she has a right to speakThat’s your mode of operating your City Hall. Be proud of yourself because you are leading a very, very bad, bad imitation of what the City of Riverside Mayor should be. I hope he (mayor elect Rusty) does not follow in your footsteps, because if he does I will be right and correct him every time.
– Former City of Riverside Mayor Terry Frizzel
RIDING THE GRAVY TRAIN
So who has protected the former Mayor and his alleged bad behavior? Who enabled him? Was it a festering culture that existed and continues to allow the privileged class to do what they please because they simply believed they are somehow exceptional? Does the Crème De La Crème use their self-determined authority against those in the community who speak out? We can assume those who surrounded this culture knew, but decided to do nothing! As a metastasized cancer, this culture has fervently become ingrained and intermingled within all aspects of City business…. from the police and fire unions, SEIU, teachers unions, local universities, and close establishment associations and of course, our politicians. We would say it is run as a criminal organization. You could smell the aroma of injustice when these basted gravy bastards all came running to the Council podium when there gravy train of entitlement was challenged by their employer, the taxpayer. They have undermined and plotted against you and I, for their own personal gain.
Was it Mayor Ron’s intention all along to get something of significance named after him as a gift from the community elite, which he himself basted in gravy? Perhaps we assume too much, but how else could you explain the establishment groups trampling to the Council podium of the king roach, swarming as cockroaches from the wood work to push through the naming of our cherished City Hall to the “Loveridge City Hall?” Or was this simply a gift by the ‘Mutual Admiration Society’ to one of its founding members?
We at TMC had a thought or two about the naming of public properties. We felt these kinds of honors should be reserved for someone of significance that revered the City of Riverside and helped to place it on the map. And we certainly didn’t consider that to be a politician who receives a paycheck and takes care of his cronies above the general public.
As the story goes, a core group of establishment supporters got together, allegedly with the help of Loveridge’s Chief of Staff Kristin Tillquist (who received a 15% raise by Loveridge one year…aka pension spiking). This private committee was headed was headed by ringleader, Jack Clark, a partner in litigation for BB&K, a firm which receives millions in taxpayer money for their legal advice to the city, and let’s not forget the assumption of their lease at the Mission Square building by Riverside Public Utilities. This self-appointed “brain trust” included the same-old recognizable names with long, seemingly-important titles: ex-City of Riverside Manager Brad Hudson, Private Developer Mark Rubin, Yeager Construction Companies Jack Yeager, Senior VP of The Entrepreneurial Corporate Group (which owns the Mission Inn) Ted Weggeland , City of Riverside Mayor’s Chief of Staff Kristin Tillquist, Riverside County Fair Housing Executive Director Rose Mayes, President/CEO Riverside Chamber of Commerce Cindy Roth, Roth Carney Law Firm Partner Jane Carney, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Roger Luebs, Director of Center for Philanthropy La Sierra University Dr. Jim Erickson, Retired Superintendent Alford Unified School District Dr. Damon Castillo, RUSD School Board Kathy Allavie. The majority of these people in one way or another have benefited from City Hall and/or have had their palms financially greased by the taxpayer/ratepayer/feepayer.
Many speakers at public comment were vehemently against the proposal. Some suggested other names should be considered – those which embody Riverside – such as Eliza Tibbets, John Wesley North or even Frank Miller. Councilman Steve Adams believed that the naming of City Hall needed to go to the people, and a private independent committee does not have the authority to make that call. Still others said City Hall belongs to the public and shouldn’t be named for anyone.
Some mentioned that Ronny was getting paid to do the work of the people. As our forefathers of this country stated, no one should be elevated to level of king for doing the work of the people. Now, if Ron did the work of the people AND didn’t get paid for doing it for 30 plus years, we wouldn’t have a problem voting for Loveridge City Hall. This would reflect a sacrifice and a deep passion for the community he served. But there are people in the community who also work 30 or 40 years in a job without anyone naming a building after them, and there job is just as important as the mayor’s. Names are for extraordinary circumstances.
Our opinion is that Rin Tin Tin personifies a historical facet of the City of Riverside. The dog was loyal, honorable, ardent, trustworthy and lived in Riverside. … traits that candidly we do not personify former Mayor Ron Loveridge (although we begrudgingly submit that he did live in Riverside). The ugly truth of the matter he wasn’t a man of/by/for the people, but instead the good-old-boys that enabled him and kept his behaviors under wraps. When it appears that politics has gone to the dogs …. we thought it would be fitting that the naming should as well… “The Rin Tin Tin Riverside City Hall!”
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE THE “RIN TIN TIN RIVERSIDE CITY HALL w/ ACCOMPANYING LOVERIDGE-LIFESIZED-LIKENESS POOP BAG DISPENSER”
But eventually Loveridge partly attained his wish, which he and his cronies hoped solidify his legacy by the naming of the plaza outside of City Hall. The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 to call the Main Street mall between Ninth Street and City Hall, “Ronald O. Loveridge Plaza.”
Well he finally received something that was unearned, and eventually, down the line, may be removed, because of his past behavior. But the establishment always seems to protect their people no matter how bad they are or what they have done.
“He’s one of Riverside’s iconic leaders,” said Brent Lee, president of the young business leaders’ organization the Pick Group. As an elected RUSD School Board members with no doubt higher ambitions, we think Brent Lee may one day be eating his words.
Council members also described their former colleague in glowing terms. “He was about finding the middle ground and getting things done as best we could with seven minds up here that think differently but have the same ideal of doing what’s best for Riverside,” said Councilman Paul Davis. We’re sure Councilman Paul Davis may have needed a Heimlick maneuver in order to clear his throat after that utterance. But those who know Davis, in terms of politics, know he seems to go wherever the wind blows.
And still, the “it” crowd continues to shield the Steve Adam’s, Ron Adam’s, John Burnard’s, Russ Leach’s, Chris Lanzillo’s, Brad Hudson’s, Tom DeSantis’s, Belinda Graham’s, Brenda Dietrich’s, Greg Priamos’s, Luxory Girl Strout’s, Code Enforcement, Sergio Diaz’s, the Scott Barber’s of the world and many more……how much taxpayer monies did it and will it cost?
Over the years TMC has seen this entitled culture of taxpayer welfare recipients, and we have seen it within the boundaries of the ole’ River City’s Thirty Miles of Corruption…and Ron Loveridge is the “great reveal” for those not following the bouncing ball.
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
jehunter51
TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption 