Posts Tagged ‘siobhan foster’

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY: TMC CONTINUES TO SUPPORT JOHN CHIANG’S AUDITING TEAM!

Posted: March 20, 2012 in Uncategorized
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No doubt, Interum Public Works Director Tom Boyd maybe the focus of the John Chiang’s auditing teams hard lined questions.  and no doubt, former Public Works Director Siobhan Foster is also looking from the sidelines after leaving her Riverside position in a rush for the same position for the City of Pasadena, a much furthercommute away from home.  Did she know anything of the second coming?

DON’T MISS CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR,  DVONNE PITRUZELLO AND SELF APPOINTED CITY AUDITOR VIVIAN MORENO WILL BE GIVING CITY COUNCIL A MATH LESSON!   FORMER DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY RAYCHELE STERLING WILL BE TALKING ABOUT HOW HUMAN RESOURCES TERRORIZES THEIR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN PARANOIA.   TONIGHT AT 6:30 PM!

                                              

CLICK LINK TO VIEW FULL VERSION         CLICK LINK TO VIEW PAYMENT SCHEDULE

 Item #2 is a big concern with the taxpaying residents of the City of Riverside.  The city doesn’t have all the money for the park, it therefore will be encumbering our six of the taxpayer fire stations for collateral against a $4 million dollar loan.  The six are as follows: Fire Station 2- Arlington, Fire Station 3- Magnolia Center, Fire Station 4- University, Fire Station 8- La Sierra, Fire Station 11-Orange Crest , and Fire Station 12- La Sierra South.  The city not to long ago encumbered Fire Station 13- Sycamore Canyon, Fire Station 14- Canyon Crest and two libraries: Casa Blanca and Arlington to use as collateral for monies that found it’s way to the devlopers of the Hyatt Hotel.  Now regarding the six fire stations, the finance company, Pinnacle Public Finance, Inc., states that the aggregate value of the fire statios is valued slightly over $4 million, and that is the reason for the need of six stations.  I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but if you divide $4 million by 6 you get $666,666.66.  A possible sign or just a coincidence? Regardless, the median value of each fire station.  Pinnacle Public Finance must feel their is risk with this loan to the city, because sources state that the actual cost to build a fire station can run from $9 to $10 million.  The estimated cost to build the Downtown Fire Station #1,  is $11,246,872.00.   Fire Station #14-Canyon Crest which was completed in 2007 costed $4,812,684.00 for one fire station , which contradicts the assessment of 4 million for all six.  Is anybody out there experienceing a conniption fit just yet?

                                                     

CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW THE FULL DOCUMENT           CLICK THE LINK TO VIEW ORIGINAL SITE

So, are we placing approximately $24,000,000.00 to $50,000,000.00 in fire stations for a $4,000,000.00 loan?  More salt on the wound, the city’s finance team for this project includes Best, Best & Krieger.  Now when this is all over, we will probably have to encumber another 6 fire stations (if we have any left) to pay their bill, since it’s the cities practice not to use contracts with them.  Mad yet?  The cities annual payment or debt cost will be close to $468,000.00 per year from the General Fund for 10 years.  At the end of that 10 years the city will have paid out $671,150.40 in interest alone.  That means that could effect police or fire department payroll.  But it must not matter in lieu of the mayor’s staff receiving 15% raises.  Now nothing is free, so will the city make up the slack in higher taxes, or revenue enhancers such as service or violation fees?  Further, Chief Financial Officer Paul Sundeen’s name is not on any of these documents!  By the way where is Paul!

So far it is estimated that Tequesquite Park will cost $10.1 million.  The city already had $2 million to cover the design cost and environmental  and conservation fees, The other $4.1 million would come from municipal debt  that the city issued in 2008.  Therefore, $4 million is needed to complete the project, which will be paid back over a term of 10 years.  In terms of the next 10 years, the total cost from the City’s General Fund each year will be $804,000.00   That’s the cost of park maintenance $336,000 plus the loan payment including interest of $468,000.00

ITEM #20, ITEMS #21 and ITEM #22, the initiations of  Landscape Maintenance Districts, where by an annual process of leyving special assessments pertaining to landscape maintenance.  This cost of maintaining landscaping will assessed to property owners, as if you don’t have enough taxes to worry about.  Dear City of Riveside, don’t we already pay for landscape maintenance in the form of property taxes?  Another example of over taxation or double taxation without representation..  But this whole process brings back an old city favorite Albert Webb.  Back in 2008, the Albert Webb company was paid 12 seperate payouts all in one day.  Question abound, regarding this event.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

HOLDING TRUE TO HIS MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the City Attorney’s Office is to provide excellent and ethical legal advice, effective legal representation, and other quality legal services for the City Council, City officers, and City employees in order that they may lawfully attain the City Council’s goals and other department program outcomes without undue risk to the City?  DO YOU SEE TAXPAYER OR CITIZEN OF THE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY MENTIONED? AFTERALL, IF YOU ARE PAYING THE BILL SHOULDN’T YOU, THE TAXPAYER,  BE PROTECTED?

WHO WILL BE HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER NEXT WHEN JOHN CHIANG’S AUDITING?  CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS.   CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST THAT THEY COMPLY FULLY WITH THE CONTROLLERS WISHES.  THIS CITY OF RIVERSIDE NEEDS TRANSPARENCY IN THE BOOKS, AND WITH A NEW CITY MANAGER, SCOTT BARBER THS CAN BE ATTAINED.

“OK, ONE MORE TIME, YOU SAY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE DID WHAT”?

 TWO WEEKS AGO AT CITY COUNCIL MARCH 6, 2012:

Evening session was attended by Tom Boyd Interium Public Works Director, no sign of Paul Sundeen since he was last seen leaving mid day from city hall. Councilman Steve Adams was not seen either. TMC had their protest signs with sticks attached to them, some of them pointed.  A plains clothes officer was called in by City Attorney Gregory Priamos. When the officer approached Gregory, Gregory said  “over there”!  The plain clothes officer looked over to us and went to the back of City Council Hall.  As the group was leaving and exiting the hall, he later told our group that he was told by Gregory to come in an remove the protesters, because some of the signs had points. That would be considered a “weapon”. In this officers opinion he was just not going to do that. Possibly because it’s appearance was “frivolous”, much as some of Gregory’s law suits.  In particular, Ms. Doreen Johnson. Evidently, the Johnson’s own a commercial building and leased property to someone who opened a marijuana dispensary and was then closed and a law suit ensued with their name on it.

  

It appears if anyone is doing drug business on a property you own, they the feds can take it away from you under asset forfeiture.  Others our stating that Ms. Johnson’s property is coincidently across the street from a developers property that has done many projects for the city.  But these projects have been in questioned regarding their public benefit.  Originally, the true intentions of ‘asset forfeiture laws’ were to hit drug dealers by taking their expensive homes, pimped out vehicles, jewelry and luxury items attained and purchased with drug monies etc.  This would occur after their arrest.  It currently appears the City Attorney is stretching it to include innocent property owners.  Whats really egregious is that they are using three BB&K attorney’s at taxpayer expense, with a cost of $300 to $400 an hour each to go against this business owner.  According to Johnson, she was voted on by Priamos and the City as a public nuisance, violating zoning codes, and as she states has been slandered as ‘drug dealer’.  Even though the City Attorney serves at the pleasure of the City Council and the Mayor, nothing is said.  Does our leadership care or even know the laws?  Or our just banking that the advice given by city attorney Gregory Primos is solid and true?  Does our leadership even have the background to contradict him?   So under Federal asset forfeiture law,even if you loan your car to a friend, and that friend makes a drug deal with the use of your vehicle, they can take your vehicle. It’s a true stretch from the original intentions but something the Johnson’s should inquire with the State Attorney General or Federal Department of Justice. Where was Gregory when some of the City Council and Management were driving illegal cold plate vehicles, or where illegal gun sales were occurring, or when concealed weapons permits were being fraudulently being applied for with a city hall address?  Did Gregory call the Feds?  Or where by the attempted cover up of the Chief Russell Leach case.  Where many at City Hall used their personal cell phones for communication whereby could not be subpoenaed, therefore did not exist.  The question everyone is asking is why does Gregory want to beat everybody up?

Afternoon session, not in attendance was Tom Boyd, and again Councilman Steve Adams and Chief Financial Officer Paul Sundeen.  The second day of the two month audit must be tumultuous. The Council Arena didn’t really get heated until the Chief of Police Sergio Diaz stepped in and began pointing fingers and speaking out at those those he didn’t like.  Pointing and looking at Mayoral Candidate Dvonne Pitruzello he exclaimed, “I don’ t like her”, and pointed to others with signs, “and any of them”.  Looked back at Pitruzello, “you said I wasn’t qualified”.  Ok, it is a public forum, but we weren’t sure if the good ol chief was acting in police mode or in private citizen mode.  Then he faced off with Activist Karen Wright, not once but twice, he left and then came back and he wouldn’t stop. “You’re a horrible person”, “Your disrespectful” and the coup de ta “You hate the police”!  Ooops..  Assistant Chief Chris Vicino even appeared to be trying to get the chiefs attention for the unchiefly behavior, “Hey Chief”! “Chief”!    Many around were asking who the man in the suit was. “He’s the chief of police”… “What, you’re kidding”?   Well when I came up to Karen, she was visually shaken as many in the room were at this display. She of course did not know how to respond to the Chief, and she said she didn’t ever meant any disrespect to fallen officer Ryan Bonaminio or his family, as she indicated.  Besides the chief, there were others who verbally attacked her. Have we forgotten what this country is all about?  Is Riverside a microcosm of beliefs predating 2012?  Have we forgotten what our forefathers warned us about?  Afterall they were considered Kooks and Traitors. Questions many are secretly asking about our Chief, if he has the ability or is he truly qualified with the skills to create a unifying and cohesive support and alliance between the police and the community?  Will the chief receive a letter from Gregory regarding his behavior at City Council Meetings as many others have for less of the behavior seen?  A Strategic Plan submitted to the council two years to late and nothing said regarding the lateness from the mayor or city council?  Do any of them care when the whole community is watching?  What message does this send to our community from our leaders?

In Public comment, Kevin Dawson stated that the comments the Chief made were not in line with the preamble of the city charter.  We want people to participate in city government. I’ve heard of other incidents where similar comments were made and I think they were inappropriate, and not in line with a leadership role.  People look at the Chief for guidance.. Kevin also mentioned since the chief is in a leadership role, that maybe the City Manager should have a conversation with him, and I think he owes Karen Wright an apology.  Both current City Manager Scott Barber and Chief of Police were brought in by Former City Manager Brad Hudson, whereby much of his activities have been in question.

NOT SURE WHERE THE CHIEF GETS HIS POLITICS ON SPEECH, BUT NEEDS TO READ THIS, I’M SURE HE PASSES IT DAILY..

Self appointed auditor, Vivian Moreno stated that one of things that the chief discussed in his description of his strategic plan was the enthusiasm and professionalism of the police department, there was nothing professional about the way he accosted Karen Wright when she was exercising her right to free speech.  You have a monument on City Hall and there is a quote of Benjamin Franklin that talks about free speech.  I’m sure that everyone would agree that everyone has the right to free speech.  Our we all civilized in this room except the Chief?  He also said that they (police) were a force of good.  I don’t think what he had to say was good for her,(Karen Wright).  He also stated something really interesting, he stated that the police don’t lie, cheat or steal..  There was $35,000.00 that was given to Connie Leach (former wife of chief Russ Leach) for the Multi Cultural Youth Festival from Police Asset Forfeiture, what about that? There was the receipts from the the Baker to Las Vegas Run for hotels, shoes, luches, dinners, what about that? …and Gregory Priamos, police asset forfeiture will now collect money from a poor woman (Ms. Doreen Johnson), you are now going to take her property because she rented it to someone undesirable..  I think there is no leadership in management, and I think there are a lot of problems with this city council and you better wake up!

CURRENTLY IN THE NEWS IS HOW PENSIONS RULES ARE NOW DISQUALIFYING SOME RETIRED WORKERS IN THIS NEW PE STORY.  IN OTHER WORDS THE PRACTICE OF DOUBLE DIPPING.  IN THIS PUBLIC DOCUMENT THEIR ARE WHO WERE PAID $31,875.00 FOR REDLIGHT CAMERA REVIEW, ONE OF THEM IS CITY COUNCILMAN’S STEVE ADAMS BROTHER, RON ADAMS.

 OTHERS SUCH AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PAUL SUNDEEN, WHO WAS BROUGHT OUT FROM RETIREMENT, TO BE EMPLOYED ON A PART TIME BASIS WITH THE CITY OF RIVERIDE, ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IS CONSIDERED NULL AND VOID.  CURRENTLY, SUNDEEN WAS PLACED ON CONTRACT.  THE QUESTION PERCOLATING IS CAN HE EVEN BE PLACED ON CONTRACT TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR THE CITY?

DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP WEBSITE A THREAT? VIRAL INFESTED?  CAME ACROSS THE FOLLOWING:  “WEB SITES RATED “CAUTION” MAY HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF THREATS AND ANNOYANCES, BUT ARE NOT CONSIDERED DANGEROUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RED “WARNING”.  PROCEED WITH CAUTION”.  IS THIS A MESSAGE TO COMMUNITY BUSINESS’S REGARDING THE LEGACY OF DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP?

 

UPDATE: 3:00 PM CITY COUNCIL:  PUBLIC SPEAKER REBECCA LUDWIG PASSESS 3 MINUTE MARK, ALMOST GETS A POLICE ESCORT OUT OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  THE CALL, POSSIBLY CITY ATTORNEY GREGORY PRIAMOS.  IT APPEARS THAT MAYOR PRO TEMPT PAUL DAVIS LOOKED AT PRIAMOS, THEN TWO POLICE OFFICERS WALKED DOWN THE HALL WAY.  DOES PRIAMOS HAVE A POLICE BUTTON UNDER HIS TABLE?

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND PROSSIBLY POSSIBLY ON FILE WITH THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S POTENTIAL SLAPP SUIT LIST… WE WILL HAVE TO ASK GREG ABOUT THAT ONE… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT OR FOR CONTACT!   THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM 

CITY OF MORENO VALLEY: CITY MANAGER HENRY GARCIA: KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY?

Posted: November 1, 2011 in Uncategorized
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 “What does talent have to do with people’s mistakes?” – Moreno Valley City Manager Henry Garcia

Yep, this was Garcia’s response to the shenanigans encountered by former City of Riverside Assistant Manager Tom DeSantis.  Of course, referring to the controversy over the purchase of Police Department guns by him and former City Manager Brad Hudson and the use of untraceable license plates by top city officials, including DeSantis.  Then the alleged brandishing of a firearm and threats made to a mother and child in a Hemet parking lot.   Questions linger as to why he originally left the County, as well as the City of Riverside.  Allegations of sexual harassment have been brought forward by those within the intersactum.  Even with overwhelming evidence of wrong doing, we had elected officials such as Councilman Mike Gardner who was noted in complimenting DeSantis’s work, “I respected his ability and dedication to the city”.  But Moreno Valley’s City Manager Henry Garcia felt Tom DeSantis was the right person for the job of Interim Human Resources Director regardless of his alleged behavioral issues and mistakes.  The key appears to be talent.  In searching for talent, Garcia fired Human Resources Director Juris “Sonny” Morkus and Public Works Director Chris Vogt.  The story now is to find what the real story is from Morkus and Vogt. If any of you two are out their, email us anonymously with your “dirt”, we sure would like to hear your side of the story!  But if you were given seperation pay and reviews of good performance, even though you were fired, we get it!  Garcia, formerly city manager of Rialto, said he has known DeSantis more than 20 years since both were administrators in San Bernardino County.  I wonder what Riverside’s Human Resource Director Rhonda Strout thinks about all this?  Even when she knew of the details of DeSantis’s release from the City of Riverside.

DeSantis allegedly has a BS from a correspondence school and not the required Masters in Public Administration required for a Human Resource Director. In the City of Riverside, this requirement was allegedly downgraded by Former City of Riverside City Manager Brad Hudson.  This then allowed Tom Desantis to legally fill the position of Assistant City Manager.  Did the same happen in Moreno Valley?  DeSantis worked for a short times as a Public Works consultant for the city of Moreno Valley before given the position in lieu of his questionable qualifications.  Wasn’t the City of Riverside’s Human Resource Director Rhonda Strout even considered for the position by alleged long time boyfriend Moreno Valley City Manager Henry Garcia, or would this have been a conflict or even nepotism? The question many are asking is she the best person to evaluate new guidelines and policies in lieu of the recent meeting on nepotism and in house relationships, leaving questions regarding relationships lingering behind the Human Resource desk of Rhonda Strout.  Questions remain of Strout’s relationship with Garcia in lieu of Strout’s ex-husband allegedly still working for public works in the City of Riverside.

I’m the EX-Girlfrien of Rhonda Strouts SON Jeff Strout… Rhonda has been Dating Henry since I dated her son in 2005.  They like to keep it “IN THE FAMILY”  -Ashllye, commenter on TMC

As reported in the Press Enterprise, the mayor speculated that perhaps DeSantis’ report criticizing public works for foot dragging and stalled projects contributed to releasing Vogt.  After the report came out, the city moved supervision of the land development division, formerly under public works, to economic development.  Well, this gets quite interesting, Moreno Valley’s Economic Development Director is no other than Barry Foster.  Incidently, Barry Foster is married to former Riverside Public Works Director Siobhan Foster, who is now in the middle of several law suits.  Even then employee insiders allegedly had questioned her qualifications when she asked them what a “pot hole” was, they in turn had to explain.  She is now working as public works director for the City of Pasadena, under City Manager Michael Beck, who formally worked as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Riverside.  Favoritism?  But it also appears Garcia and Strout, together, did some relationship building seminars as consultants for the cities of Desert Hot Springs and Ridgecrest.  To this day Henry Garcia is still one of the highest paid city managers with a salary and benefits package at around 400K.  What, that’s it?  I’d imagine it’s time to give himself a raise.  Is public service about public service? Or just a great racket to be in?  The bottom line, isn’t this all about keeping it in the family?  Or just part of the family business?

UPDATE:11/01/2011: FORMER CITY MANAGER ROBERT RIZZO SUES CITY OF BELL FOR BACK PAY.

UPDATE:11/02/2011: JOHN CHIANG AUDITS MONTEBELLO INVESTIGATES ENGINEERING FIRM AAE, HIRED BY THE CITY TO SERVE AS CITY ENGINEER.  INSTEAD THE FIRM AWARDED $ 2 MILLON IN CONTRACTS TO ITSELF, NOT TO MENTION $500,000.00 AS THEIR FEE TO SERVE AS CITY ENGINEER. THIS WAS ONLY JOHN CHIANG’S INVESTIGATION OF ONE YEAR OF MONTEBELLO’S RECORDS.  THE INVESTIGATION INTO MONTEBELLO WAS ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT FINANCIAL REPORTS WERE FALSE.  IN ADDITION, THE CITY OF LA PUENTE SUES AAE FOR SHABBY SEWER WORK.

UPDATE:11/02/2011: DOING WHAT IS RIGHT, MONTEBELLO CITY COUNCIL NOW WANTS TO CLOSE THE GAP ON HOW COUNCILMEMBERS COMMUNICATE.  THIS COMES ABOUT WHEN WHISTLEBLOWER, MONTEBELLO COUNCILWOMAN CHRISTINA CORTEZ REQUESTED OUTSIDE AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE STATE CONTROLLERS OFFICE, TO INVESTIGATE THEIR CITY FOR POSSIBLE CORRUPTION.

UPDATE:11/02/2011: LA TIMES ARTICLE WRITTEN 11/23/2011 REPORTS CITY OF MONTEBELLO MADE IT A HABIT OF UTILIZING RESTRICTED FUNDS TO COVER BUDGET AND CASH SHORTFALLS.

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THAT’S ALL WE’RE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT!  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

TMC NEWS FLASH: CITY OF RIVERSIDE: FORMER RIVERSIDE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SIOBHAN FOSTER: “IF THIS GETS OUT, I’M OUT!”

Posted: October 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
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 THE PASADENA STAR-NEWS IS REPORTING NEWLY HIRED PASADENA PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SIOBHAN FOSTER IS SUBJECT TO A LAWSUIT!  THE SUIT WAS FILES BY FORMER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR, SEAN GILL IN 2010, WHO WAS TERMINATED WITHOUT EXPLANATION BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE. GILL DESCRIBED RIVERSIDE AS THE CITY TAINTED WITH CORRUPTION.  FORMER RIVERSIDE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SIOBHAN FOSTER RESIGNED IN SEPTEMBER 2011, TAKE A POSITION IN PASADENA AS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR UNDER CITY MANAGER MICHAEL BECK.   ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, SIOBHAN FOSTER WAS “APPOINTED” BY PASADENA’S CITY MANAGER MICHAEL BECK TO THIS POSITION.  NOW MICHAEL BECK ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER UNDER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON.  THE OFFICE CAME UNDERFIRE VIA THE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGALLY PURCHASED GLOCK FIREARMS, BADGES AND COLD PLATES.    FIRED IN MAY 2011, FORMER DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY RAYCHELE STERLING ALSO ALLEGED THE STEERING OF CONTRACTS WITHIN FOSTER’S OFFICE TO A SELECTIVE OR PREFERENTIAL GROUP OF CONTRACTORS.  IS THIS THE STORY THE RIVERSIDE PRESS ENTERPRISE WOULDN’T COVER?

The city fired me when I tried to make people aware of their corruption. Its been going on for years. Brad Hudson, Siobhan Foster and Tom Boyd all deserve to be fired for their corruption along with half of the city council. People think Bell is corrupt, I hope they keep digging into the City of Riverside. If Ed (Former Councilman Ed Adkinson) becomes mayor, wait and see how much more work his firm receives.

—Sean Gill, to Press Enterprise comments

OTHER RELATED TMC ARTICLES:

RIVERSIDE: FIRED EMPLOYEE ALLEGES CITY OFFICIALS AWARDED MILLIONS IN CONTRACTS WITHOUT BID

RIVERSIDE: DUCK TAPING A MOUTH HAS A PRICE: A CITY GONE ROGUE

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: PUBLIC WORKS FOSTER’S & BOYD’S THE BID PROCESS!

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: FUZZY MATH AND THE BID PROCESS IN THE SEWER, BUBBLES UP THE USUAL SUSPECTS

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: THE BID PROCESS IN THE SEWER! THE STINK KEEPS BREWING, THE GROUND KEEPS A SHAKING..

HOW MANY INSTANCES OF OVERSIGHT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A FRAUD?

KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE’S MOST “SLANDEROUS” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE!   TMC IS NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THAT’S ALL WE’RE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE… AGAIN, THANK-YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOMED, ESPECIALLY SPELL CHECKERS!  EMAIL ANONYMOUSLY WITH YOUR DIRT!  THIRTYMILESCORRUPTION@HOTMAIL.COM

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC CONTINUES TO REQUEST A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE CURRENT CITY HALL BOOKS! COOKING THE BOOKS OR BURNING THE BOOKS?

Posted: October 11, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Again is this another display of our culture favoritism and selective treatment within the gates of emerald city? (Item #9).  The ambulance debacle, government again interfering with the free market system to the point of allowing a monopoly?  City councilman Paul Davis was right to ask the question if it’s the cities policy to allow one ambulance company, American Medical Response, in the city.  Does this violate antitrust laws?  What’s quite interesting is that the city issues franchise agreement to control who runs non-emergency ambulance services.  Any ambulance company is allowed to apply, but the clincher is AMR is the only company to be issued one.  The city firefighters union opposes Mission Ambulance’s bid to serve Riverside.  Why would a firefighters union get involved in the business of rendering an opinion?  Questions are continually raised in regards to union influence in the city, and to the extent of special interest request.  But you have your answer as to why no other franchise agreements were ever issued over the last 50 years.  But again, the city can save money by placing more services up for bid.  (Item #9) Again, is the city and the firefighters union involved in a monopoly? And are the firefighters unions really looking toward the health and safety of the public?  In City Council session,  The Public Safety Commission will be recommending that the Council deny Mission ambulance from attaining a franchise agreement.  Get this, the Public Safety Commision is made up of the City Council, Chris Mac Arthur, Nancy Hart and Andy Melendez.  Further, Fire Chief Steve Early will actually be conducting the assessment of Mission ambulance’s application, and rendering an opinion to the Public Safety Commision.  Yes, I’m not making this up, it’s incestuous.  Can you guess what is going to be their decision?  In addition, the City pays AMR for certain training services to the Firefighters etc., in addition, AMR has had their own set of problems.  But it appears that according to the references in favor of Mission Ambulance, that the city would turn a blind eye to the health and safety of Riversidian’s in favor of alleged special interest.

UPDATE: COUNCIL VOTES TO DENY MISSION AMBULANCE A FRANCHISE, EXCEPT FOR COUNCILMAN PAUL DAVIS.  AMR HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAMPAIGN’S OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING DAVIS.  MISSION AMBULANCE CONTRIBUTED TO DAVIS ONLY.  BACK IN 2009, CONFLICT OF INTEREST CHARGES WERE FILED AGAINST AMR’S PETER HUBBARD, WHO WAS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE RIVERSIDE POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION.  MISSION AMBULANCE WAS CORRECT IN SAYING THAT MISINFORMATION HAS BEEN FED.  MISINFORMATION SUCH AS CHIEF STEVE EARLY STATEMENT THAT MISSION AMBULANCE MAY NOT RESPOND, IF THEY WERE CALLED, BECAUSE OF A COST FACTOR.  COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS ALSO STATED MISSION AMBULANCE REFUSES TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT PAY.  AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE IS CONTRACTED FOR 911 SERVICES WITH THE CITY, AND YOU ARE ONLY CALLED IF CONTRACTED FOR 911 SERVICES.  MISSION AMBULANCE WOULD LIKE TO SERVE THE RETAIL END, AND CONTRACTS INDIVIDUALLY WITH PROVIDERS, AND SHOULD AND COULD HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTRACT FOR 911 SERVICES AT THE STANDARD CONTRACTS RATES IF ALLOWED.  MISINFORMATION ON THE DAIS?  CHIEF EARLEY RECOMMENDED THE APPLICATION BE DENIED, BUT WAS AT A LOSS OF WORDS TO RATIONALLY EXPLAIN IT.  WHEN ASKED BY PAUL DAVIS AS TO THE DETAILS OF THE DENIAL, CITY ATTORNEY GREG PRIAMOS WAS THEIR TO RESCUE AND SPIN, AND REMINDING EVERYONE OF THE ISSUE AT HAND.  THIS WAS REMARKABLY DONE MORE THAN ONCE AS TO CEASE COUNCILMAN PAUL DAVIS’S QUESTIONING.  IN RELATION TO THIS PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR, A CLOSE OUTSIDE FRIENDSHIP IS ALLEGED BETWEEN CITY ATTORNEY GREG PRIAMOS AND PETER HUBBARD WHO HAVE BEEN SEEN AT FAMILY GATHERINGS, NOW RAISING QUESTIONS AGAIN OF CONFLICT INTEREST.  FURTHER, COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS WAS ALLEGED SEEN HAVING DRINKS WITH PETER HUBBARD AT RIVERSIDE’S SALTED PIG RESTAURANT ON 10/11/2011.  WOULD THIS HAVE ANY EFFECT ON HIS DECISION MAKING ON THIS ITEM AS A COUNCILMAN?   HOW ABOUT THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COUNCILMAN AND MAYOR PRO-TEMP CHRIS MAC ARTHUR, EVEN THE MAYOR HIMSELF, RON LOVERIDGE?  AND LET’S NOT FORGET THE INFAMOUS BAD BOY’S THEMSELVES, BRAD HUDSON AND TOM DESANTIS.  WHAT ABOUT THE MILLIONAIRE’S CLUB?  WOULD MISSION AMBULANCE HAVE A LEGAL CASE AGAINST THE CITY UNDER THESE GROWING CIRCUMSTANCES?  DOES THIS NOW MEAN ONE FOR THE FIRE CHIEF, AND ONE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE INTEREST OF THE UNION BROTHERHOOD? WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE CITY’S INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIPS EFFECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE THE COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE, WITH POSSIBLE GRAND VIOLATIONS OF ANTITRUST LAWS?

Talking about firefighters their still negotiating their salaries and fringe benefits in closed sessions again under (Item #5), with you guessed it , the firefighters union etc.  Hopefully they’ll be negotiating low, because the city can’t afford to pay them more.  After all, the city will be at a standstill by next year 2012 when bonds come due. Maybe we should do as Norco did, dissolve their City Fire Department and bid out. In their case they went with Cal Fire/ Riverside County Fire Department,  or another alternative for saving money is go back to the Volunteer Fire Department. Another idea would be to dissolve RPD, and bring in the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in order to save money.  Excessive pensions is placing a large dent in the Cities budget. It’s no secret that 70% to 80% of a cities budget goes to payroll. (Item #5, Closed sessions of course).  This is a good reason that the City Charter needs to be modified, and whereby items as this should be in open session to be scrutinized by the public, and these closed door sessions leave an open door to abuse, at taxpayer expense.  And that my friends is how the city rolls..

Parking Citations Amnesty. Parking always a problem in Riverside and excessive violation fees at $41.00 a pop is another.   Won’t work, people have no money, honest! (Item #16)  The idea proposed by Public Works Director Siobhan Foster is that the end result of the amnesty program, the city will bring in $33,925.00 in revenue.  The actual total revenue expected from the amnesty program is $125,025.00.  But this figure will be offset by the initial expense of the taxpayer have in the amount of $91,000.00 to implement the plan.  THE BOTTOM LINE, IT ORDER TO BRING IN 27% BACK IN REVENUE, IT WILL COST THE TAXPAYER BY THE OFFSET COST, 73%.  I WOULD ALSO ASSUME THAT THE PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER DUE TO THE COST AND ATTEMPT TO RECOVER PRIOR COST TO THIS PROPOSAL, THEREFORE THE REVENUE BROUGHT IN FROM THE AMNESTY PROGRAM WOULD ACTUALLY BE LESS THAN 27% AS INDICATED.  NOW WE KNOW WHY SIOBHAN FOSTER IS MOVING PLACES, AND PASADENA PICKED HER UP LIKE A BAG OF CLEAN SOCKS!

One more week to go on naming city hall!  But after the item #9 debacle, we all know how that is going to turn out as well…  Bad news for Rin Tin Tin…

UPDATE:10/18/2011: A VERY SENSITIVE AMR CANCELS LEASE AGREEMENT WITH MURRIETA OVER A COUNCILMAN’S STATEMENT.  MURRIETA URGES COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON AMBULANCE CONTRACTS.    DID THEY ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM TAKING $1.4 MILLION IN “BLOOD MONEY” TO LOWER RESPONSE TIMES AS ALLEGEDLY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE TOOK?

UPDATE:10/29/2011: WHILE COUNCILMAN STEVE ADAMS BELIEVE OUTSIDE AMBULANCE COMPANIES WOULD NOT PICK THOSE WHO CANNOT PAY WITHIN THE CTY, IT APPEARS THE COUNTY HANDS OUT A STIPEND, AN ENCENTIVE ETC. TO COVER THAT COST. 

UPDATE:12/08/2011: ACCORDING TO THE STATE AGENCY THAT OVERSEES COUNTY MEDICAL SERVICE PLANS, RIVERSIDE OFFICIALS DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO STOP QUALIFIED AMBULANCE COMPANIES FROM FROM PICKING UP PATIENTS IN THE CITY.  THE QUESTION MANY CITY RESIDENTS ARE ASKING, IS THE CITY VIOLATING ANTITRUST LAWS?

UPDATE:02/13/2012: THE STATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AUTHORITY (EMSA) STATES THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE OVERSTEPPED IT’S AUTHORITY IN LIMITING AMBULANCE SERVICES.  COULD THE $1.4 MILLION AMR PROVIDES RIVERSIDE EACH YEAR FOR PARAMEDIC TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT CONTRIBUTE TO HOW THE CITY VOTES ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT AMR?  OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE $1.4 MILLION ALLOWS AMR TWO MORE MINUTES TO THEIR MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RESPONSE TIME.  JUST LIKE HAVING A BAD BURRITO, IT JUST DOES’T SIT WELL IN THE STOMACH’S OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.  BRUCE BARTON, DIRECTOR OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AGENCY, ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY WAS IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF AMR AS OF 2004.  COULD THIS CONTRIBUTE TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OUTCOME?

UPDATE: 05/11/2012: COMMMENTER ON THE PRESS ENTERPRISE REGARDING THE AMBULANCE MONOPOLY IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE..

No,  what’s going on, you’ve got three mayoral candidates who already know from debates and feedback this is a major campaign issue and they don’t want to have to make any decisions about it before the June election. Gardner must think that most of us just got off the turnip truck yesterday based on his comments. But you know what? People in this city are capable of independent thought without being patronized. This whole ordinance was written back in the late 1980s to protect Goodhew Ambulance which was tied in heavily through the people connected to the city council and mayor at the time. It’s a shame that nothing’s changed since even though the city’s grown both in size through annexations and through its population.  The ambulance companies should call the Office of the Inspector General and ask him or her to initiate an investigation of the Federal Anti-Kickback statute. At best, there’s potential for a huge conflict of interest including financially in this case, but looking at the lettering of the statute, it might be more than that.   Exceptions or “safe reservoirs” for this law pertain to trying to avoid monopolies in high-need areas not create one. I’m sure if the inspector general has to start an inquiry into what’s going on, the City Council will be in a rush to reschedule its workshop.   – Mary Shelton, University of California, Riverside

WHO WILL BE HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER NEXT WHEN THE AUDITOR COMES ASKING QUESTIONS? CHECK BACK WEEKLY…THAT IS, EVERY CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY! WE’LL EVEN PROVIDE THE DIRECT LINK SO YOU CAN CHECK THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT BE DONE BY STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG OF THE CITY HALL BOOKS.   WITH A NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER, SCOTT BARBER, THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE NEEDS BASELINE NUMBER AS DONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO ASSURE BALANCED NUMBERS AND TO CLEAR POSSIBLE DISCREPANCIES OF THE GENERAL LEDGER BOOKS. IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, THE NUMBERS WILL ALWAYS COME UP RIGHT! 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THAT’S ALL TMC HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE FOR NOW… THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE’S MOST “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE.

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: TMC CONTINUES TO REQUEST A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE CURRENT CITY HALL BOOKS!

Posted: September 27, 2011 in Uncategorized
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INTERESTING STUFF COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, AND I DON’T MEAN THE CITIES LEAKY SEWERS.  THERE IS NO DOUBT WHY GREG IS HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER INCOGNITO THIS TIME.  ACCORDING TO CITY COUNCIL PERSON NANCY HART, HE WOULD NEVER STEER US WRONG.  WELL NANCY HART, I HOPE YOU ARE RIGHT, BECAUSE ISN’T THE CITY OF BELL SUING THEIR EX-CITY ATTORNEY FOR NEGLIGENCE AND FAULTY LEGAL ADVICE?  LET’S NOT FORGET, THE EX-BELL CITY ATTORNEY WAS ALSO AN ATTORNEY FOR BB&K.  THE VERY FIRM OUR CITY ATTORNEY CONTINUES TO SEEK WHEN IN NEED OF ADVICE OR TO PERFORM OTHER LEGAL ACTIVITIES.   IT ALSO APPEARS THAT THE CITY IS COMFORTABLE IN IMPLEMENTING VERBAL BILATERAL CONTRACTS, SINCE NO HARD CONTRACTS ARE USED ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS IN RETAINING BB&K.  ILLEGAL OR JUST BAD BUSINESS?

HOLDING TRUE TO THEIR MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the City Attorney’s Office and BB&K is to provide excellent and ethical legal advice, effective legal representation, and other quality legal services for the City Council, City officers, and City employees in order that they may lawfully attain the City Council’s goals and other department program outcomes without undue risk to the City. 

WHO WILL BE HIDING BEHIND THE COMPUTER NEXT WHEN THE AUDITOR COMES ASKING QUESTIONS? CHECK BACK WEEKLY…THAT IS, EVERY CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY! WE’LL EVEN PROVIDE THE DIRECT LINK SO YOU CAN CHECK THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR AND REQUEST THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT BE DONE BY STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG OF THE CITY HALL BOOKS.   WITH A NEW INTERIM CITY MANAGER, SCOTT BARBER, THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE NEEDS BASELINE NUMBER AS DONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO ASSURE BALANCED NUMBERS AND TO CLEAR POSSIBLE DISCREPANCIES OF THE GENERAL LEDGER BOOKS. IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE, THE NUMBERS WILL ALWAYS COME UP RIGHT! 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON FILE WITH THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, AND THAT’S ALL TMC HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT ONE FOR NOW…

UPDATE: PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SIOBHAN FOSTER RESIGNS TO TAKE A POSITION IN PASADENA, AS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR UNDER CITY MANAGER MICHAEL BECK.  NO DOUBT A GOOD TIME TO STEP OUT.  BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THERE! ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, SIOBHAN FOSTER WAS “APPOINTED” BY MICHAEL BECK TO THIS POSITION, THEREFORE OVERSTEPPING THE AUTHORITY OF THE KINGDOM OF RIVERSIDE. GET IT , SHE COULDN’T SAY NO! YES, IT ALL GETS WEIRDER BY THE MINUTE.  WHY LEAVE YOUR FAMILY, WHEN YOU HUSBAND, BARRY FOSTER, IS MORENO VALLEY’S ECONOMIC DIRECTOR?  IS A VOLCANO READY TO EXPLODE IN THE CALDERA KNOWN AS CITY HALL?   NOW MICHAEL BECK ALSO WORKED FOR THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER UNDER CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON.  THE OFFICE CAME UNDERFIRE VIA THE ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGALLY PURCHASED GLOCK FIREARMS, BADGES AND COLD PLATES.  FOSTER LEAVES AMIDST THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY EX-CITY EMPLOYEES.  FIRED DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY RAYCHELE STERLING ALLEGED THE STEERING OF CONTRACTS WITHIN FOSTER’S OFFICE TO A SELECTIVE OR PREFERENTIAL GROUP OF CONTRACTORS.  FIRED CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS ADMINISTRATOR SEAN GILL, ALLEGED FOSTER IGNORED HIS CONCERNS REGARDING COST OVERRUNS AND THAT SHE DIRECTED HIM TO GATHER INCRIMINATING INFORMATION ON OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO THREATENED TO EXPOSE WRONGDOING AT THE CITY.  OTHERS HAVE OPENLY QUESTIONED HER QUALIFICATIONS AND ABILITIES FOR THE POSITION SHE HELD..  TWO HIGH PROFILE EXECUTIVES HAVE NOW LEFT THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THE OTHER BEING CITY MANAGER BRAD HUDSON IN AUGUST.  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, IS THEIR MORE INFORMATION COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE THAN WE KNOW OF?  WHO WILL BE NEXT TO JUMP SHIP? BELINDA GRAHAM, GREG PRIAMOS, DEANNA LORSEN, TINA ENGLISH, TOM BOYD, SCOTT BARBER, RHONDA STROUT, PAUL SUNDEEN? THE PRESSURE IS ON!  GOOD LUCK PASADENA!

MORENO VALLEY: EX ASSISTANT RIVERSIDE CITY MANAGER TOM DESANTIS HIRED BY MORENO VALLEY CITY MANAGER HENRY GARCIA!

Posted: June 28, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Press Enterprise reports DeSantis hired back to Moreno Valley by Moreno Valley City Manager Henry Garcia to review Public Works via a contractual agreement. The City Council did not have to approve the contract, because Garcia authorized the money from his (slush) discretionary fund.  Henry Garcia stated, “There is no relation between what occurred in Riverside and Tom DeSantis’ talents, he has a very distinguished reputation for analysis in Riverside.”  Garcia contracted DeSantis three months ago, paying him $100 an hour for 140 hours of work.  As an independent contractor, hopefully Garcia 1099 him, and this can be found through the public records act.  Is Garcia drinking the Kool Aid when hiring DeSantis or was this part of his orchestrated schpeel?  Moreno Valley just brought Tom DeSantis up a notch by calling him “distinguished”, but then you must consider the source.  This is a similar to the accounting of Sacramento County Chairwoman Roberta MacGlashan, where she said officials don’t believe Riverside’s City Manager Brad Hudson ordered Riverside city contracts steered to friends.  Well, OK, but you are still required as a steward of the people to investigate.  Brad Hudson worked for the County of  Riverside, and when he departed to the City of Riverside, he not only brought over Belinda Graham from San Bernardino County, but brought DeSantis, Tina English, Deanna Lorsen, and later, the new kid on the block Emilio Ramirez all from Riverside County.  But is history repeating itself? Or does Moreno Valley fit the profile of the track record of the imcomperable Mr. DeSantis?  Has he been tagged as unhireable?  City Manager Henry Garcia left the City of Rialto as City Administrator in February of 2011.  Incidently, Joe Baca Jr. is Councilman for the City of Rialto, the son of  Congressman Joe Baca, who represents the 42nd District, of which the City of Rialto is a part of.  Get the picture?  Just recently, Tom DeSantis had applied for the position of Town Manager in Gilbert, Arizona, but raised red flags when his past service came into question.   Sources have indicated that he originally left the County of Riverside due to allegations of sexual harassment.  There has been similar indications of these allegations with the City of Riverside.  Then there is the coups d’état, the allegation of brandishing the firearm, and there is more, the badges, the holsters, the illegal gun purchases, the concealed weapons permits, the post-it notes documentation of public vehicle use and the illegal cold plate vehicle use, and of course, there is much, much, more….  What is it about this culture of corruption, that appears to turn the other ear to the constituents welfare?  DeSantis, the fall guy for City Manager Brad Hudson…….will he be the fall guy for City Manager Henry Garcia?  Then there was the sorted tale of Ex Moreno Valley City Manager Robert Gutierrez, who resigned in 2009 while facing seven misdemeanor charges involving sexual harassment. No matter how agregious the crime, you still get an enormous payout by the taxpayer! The filo dough is just about to seperate and unfold on this one. 

UPDATE: 06/29/2011: How closely tied is the City of Riverside and Moreno Valley?  Closer than you think…  Barry Foster, Moreno Valley’s Economic Development Director is the husband of Siobhan Foster, the City of Riverside’s Public Works Director.  Now Riverside’s Ex Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis has been hired by the City of Moreno Valley to review Public Works.  Will Tom DeSantis now maintain an inter-city collaboration with Siobhan Foster concerning issues of Public Works?  Is Tom DeSantis even qualified to review Public Works?  Garcia, formerly city manager of Rialto, said he has known DeSantis more than 20 years since both were administrators in San Bernardino County. Is this close culture of networking responsible for the problems California is experiencing?  Is this all in the family? or just part of the family business?

UPDATE: 06/30/2011: Undisclosed sources are allegedly stating that Riverside’s Human Resource Director Rhonda Strout is the girlfriend of Moreno Valley City Manager Henry Garcia.   The close tie would have enabled Garcia to receive a true account and background check of Riverside’s Ex Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis.

MORE TO COME, ANONYMOUS SOURCES WELCOMED, DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOS WELCOMED, KEEP CONNECTED WITH TMC, MAKING THEM HONEST, AND HELL, IT AIN’T EASY….

CITY OF RIVERSIDE: PUBLIC WORKS FOSTER’S & BOYD’S THE BID PROCESS!

Posted: June 25, 2011 in Uncategorized
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It never ends, Sewer Bid Contracts again in the News, is City Hall in turmoil once again at the wheel of damage control working feverishly to sort a believable story for the public?  Do we now hire our trump card Best, Best & Krieger for Public Relations, or are we just a bit beyond that?  With City Councilman Paul Davis up for Mayor Pro Temp coming this week and City Attorney Greg Priamos hiding behind the comforting doors of his office, is City Manager Brad Hudson conveniently leaving the scene of the crime just in time?  Is his remaining posse working hard to answer all the abounding questions that remain?  And are City Hall employees celebrating Brad Hudson leaving, as they did when Assistant City Manager Tom DeSantis left?

Well, the spotlight is now on Riverside Public Works, that would be Tom Boyd’s department.  Did his department preferentially award a contract to Camp, Dresser & McKee?  A contract according to the standard scoring process should have went to Hill, known as CH2M Hill,  of who scored higher.  Incidently, CH2M Hill for the third year has been rated Worlds Most Ethical Companies, I understand ethics just doesn’t sit well in Riverside.  Regardless, there are two employees at the forefront of the allegations, City Engineer Warren Huang and Sewer Treatment Plant Manager Craig Justice, who stated to Deputy City Attorney Raychele Sterling that they were called into Public Works Director Siobhan Foster’s office, where “they were told that ‘she did not like the results of the scoring,’ and that the scoring needed to be ‘fixed’ so that CDM was selected” because Albert A. Webb Associates was to be a subcontractor on the job, according to the email.  Was there creative math occurring in this bid process?   Now we have the subcontractor Albert A. Webb and Associates at the forefront of the questionable bid process.   Matthew A. Webb, president of Albert A. Webb Associates, has acknowledged a friendship with Hudson, but has said the firm gained work based on merit and that jobs for the city are only a small portion of its business, but twelve payouts on a single day?  There lies the questionable appearance of bid splitting, and no one at City Hall has been able to explain it.  The following is City Memorandum from last month by Webb requesting a change order for an additional appropiation of $308,495.00.  Now the question, what is the purpose of the scoring process when no one follows the rules?  Does it then become just a city formality?   TMC has asked for a an independent forensic audit, who will answer to a community finance commitee.  Or a request by the City Council for State Controller John Chiang, would also be in order.

What does Chief Financial Officer, Paul Sundeen say about this.   According to Mary Shelton, who writes the River City Cop Watch Blog, Sundeen believes an independent audit is too expensive and wouldn’t be necessary in his opinion. He claims no bid splitting has ever taken place ever but if it happens, he should be notified to investigate it.  We have this bit of info for Paul to investigate thirteen payments in one day. Bid splitting or coincidence? as coincidental as our emails being blocked Paul’s office.

Cihigoyenetche, Grossberg & Clouse, Rancho Cucamonga based law firm Hudson requested to investigate allegations of favoritism of himself to the tune of $100,000.00, presented their findings.  According to Cihigoyenetche’s report, the employees Sterling says told her of favoritism denied making those comments when questioned by an investigator and they did not find that Hudson’s friendships influenced who got  contracts or that Hudson pressured anyone to award contracts to someone specific.  Good work Cihigoyenetche, Grossberg & Clouse!  I’m sure there was also no conflict of interest between the firm and Hudson…..and by the way, did the taxpayer pay your bill alright?  Did anybody know that Scott Grossberg performed magic! …and wrote books such as  “The Vitruvian Square: A Handbook of  Divination Discoveries,” “The Masks of Tarot,” and “Bauta: Betraying  the Face of Illusion,” in addition to his  oracle/divination cards, “The Deck of Shadows.”     But in all fairness, in report notes of the hired law firm requested by the Press Enterprise via the public records request act,  Cihigoyenetche’s reports, “To the extent that any public works managers pressured staff to award the contract to the firm with (Hudson’s) alleged friend as a subcontractor, such pressure emanated from a pervasive desire within the city to award contracts to capable local business to stimulate the local economy,” rather than to reward Hudson’s friends.  Ahhh, thats it!…it was all about “stimulating the local economy”, that was worth a $100,000.00 of taxpayer money to find out, wouldn’t you say?  Or a bit of magic sleight of hand with taxpayer money, now you see it, now you don’t!  Further, Deputy City Attorney Raychele Sterling, who was fired last month in May, stated that the employees were badgered and berated with threats of losing their job.  In a March 23 email to the City Council, Sterling wrote that public works employees told her they were directed by their superiors to assign projects to a particular firm because its head “is a personal friend of the city manager, and the city manager wants him to receive as many projects as possible.” This at around the same time fired employee Sean Gill, Construction Contracts Administrator for the City, claimed that city officials gave millions in contracts without the contracts going out to bid. The lawsuit also alleges Gill was ordered by Deputy Public Works Director Tom Boyd to sign off on projects that didn’t meet handicap-accessible standards or city requirements, and that Boyd “even instructed Gill not to inspect the work.”  The suit claims city officials — with the knowledge of council members — awarded contracts “in an effort to increase their political allies” and ordered work without public bidding, which cost the city more money than necessary.  There you go Mr. Sundeen, sounds like something to investigate, also sounds as both Raychele and Sean fall into the whistleblower category.

Last year, June 2010 at City Council, that Dvonne Pitruzello, City Council Candidate Ward 1, requested to see documents in regards to City Manager Brad Hudson’s discretionary fund spending.  Since then, numerous questions of indiscretions came to the forefront at City Council Meetings, such as the Connie Leach Contracts and questions of favoritism in contracts awarded to Albert Webb and Assoiciates.  Will the City of Riverside experience another mass exodus due to the next erruption of the Toba Caldera?  Keep connected with TMC…

UPDATE: 06/29/2011: HUDSON’S RESPONSE TO FORMER DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY RAYCHELE STERLING, “ABSOLUTELY SILLY.”   HE MAY BE SAYING THAT BECAUSE HE’S LEAVING, BUT RAYCHELE HAS ONE HELL OF A LAW SUIT AGAINST THE CITY (TAXPAYER) WHICH WILL DEVULGE A BOMBSHELL OF IMPROPRIETIES.

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