iePolitics.com

Well, what an event-filled day! It’s taken forever tonight for me to update the blog. And on that subject, if there is anyone out there who would like to volunteer to help with the blog, i.e., adding newspaper stories and/or writing original pieces, let me know and I’ll set up an account for you. Right now I especially need help perusing the newspapers for interesting stories and my schedule is such that I’m having a hard time keeping up. “From a blogger” or original posts are always welcome.

I received a very nice email today from Senator John Benoit’s Communications Director Darin Schemmer asking if I would like to be added to their press release list. Of course my answer was “yes.” I’m only just starting to add Riverside County politics to the blog and it would be nice to have a better relationship with their elected leaders than I have with San Bernardino County’s where I have to beg and use fake email addresses and names just to get a hold of their information for the blog. So thank you Darin and Senator Benoit.
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Here is the official press release announcing the election of Supervisor Gary Ovitt as chairman and Supervisor Josie Gonzales as vice chairman. I find it interesting that they included a rather unusual quote from Supervisor Paul Biane, outgoing chairman, but nothing from Supervisor Gonzales. Here it is: Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1/06/09

CONTACTS:

Barry Nestande, District Office, (951) 653-9502

Kyle Packham, Capitol Office, (916) 651-4037

On Heels Of Law Enforcement Honor, Benoit Introduces Good Samaritan Protection Act

SACRAMENTO – Senator John J. Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes) today announced that he was recently recognized as an Outstanding Legislator of 2008 by the California State Sheriffs’ Association for demonstrating his commitment to the public safety of all Californians. In addition, Senator Benoit today formally introduced legislation (SB 39) to protect Good Samaritans from legal liability, in response to a California Supreme Court ruling made in December.
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This district sounds like the County in general and TAD in particular-”guilty-until-proven-innocent” disciplinary actions, favoritism, vindictive and incompetent management, etc. Too bad we can’t do a
“worker-led” recall of TAD and HSS management and the BOS!!

Tioga High students push to recall school board

A blogger sent me several news clippings from our much more illustrious past. It reminds me of why we got into this line of work and why so many are so bitter now. There is no comparison between past leadership and today’s leadership. Read it and weep: wtw-program-the-sun

I may post some of the other articles he sent in the future.

The Fuller Connection

Welcome to The Fuller Connection. This e-newsletter provides updates and information on what is happening in the State Capitol and the 32nd Assembly District. As your Assemblymember, I am committed to providing my constituents with the necessary tools to stay informed. Please feel free to contact me on any issues that may be of interest to you, as I highly value your input on these important matters. It is an honor to serve as your Assembly representative.
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By Kevin Yamamura
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 06, 2009

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will immediately veto the Democratic plan to reduce the budget deficit by $18 billion and urge lawmakers to use his January proposal as a template for implementing midyear cuts, according to Schwarzenegger communications director Matt David.

The move forces leaders to start over in their efforts to close a budget deficit estimated at $40 billion over the next 18 months. It jettisons — for now — what Democrats hailed as “the only game in town” — because it included tax increases approved without Republican votes.
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Dutton Report Alert: Get Involved In Shaping The SB Sun’s Official Positions

Over the past several months I’ve heard comments from many of you about the coverage of stories and events that have appeared in the San Bernardino Sun, particularly the positions taken on the editorial pages of the newspaper.
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Mark Uffer’s salary increase “bump” of nearly $30,000 is an astounding 11 1/2 per cent. Comparing that to a rank-and-file county employee working full-time, 40 hours per week for 52 weeks a year that is a salary increase of an astounding $14.42 per hour. The salary increase is astounding when you compare it to the rank-and-file county employee’s average annual salary. I’m sure there are county employees at and below this astounding $30,000 per year amount who are barely scraping by. And the severance compensation, nearly $300,000 cash plus generous benefits, is also obscene. When the tax-paying public reads about stuff like this I’m sure they believe they are being ripped-off.
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January 2009 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Greetings and a Happy New Year!

It is an honor to begin my second term as your state representative in the California State Assembly, and I thank you for your support. At the State Capitol, I’m continuing to tackle the big issues that greatly impact our community: solving the state’s budget deficit; preserving as much funding as possible for schools, transportation and public safety; stimulating the economy and bringing jobs to the Inland Empire; aiding homeowners facing foreclosure; obtaining funding for perchlorate clean up; and maintaining our air quality.
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Brad issued a statement regarding Bill, which I read a little while ago. But now using my Mac I cannot even open it or link to it. So here is the link to Brad’s site for now for those who want to read it. I’ve sent a text to my Mac expert hoping he can give me some help so I can download it or link to it directly.

Brad’s is the only official statement I’ve seen so far. From what I understand Bill let Supervisor Ovitt know yesterday that he intended to make this statement during the public comment section. Too bad someone didn’t forewarn ET as I’m sure he is kicking himself all over for not being in attendance. But for Bill’s sake I’m glad he wasn’t. I know this had to be one of the most difficult public statements he has ever made and I just hope he was being truthful.

Even Brad did the right thing today. Supervisors Gary Ovitt was elected as chairman of the BOS and Supervisor Josie Gonzales was elected as vice-chairman. Both were 5-0 votes. It almost makes me think there is hope for this county!

I’ve got to get off the computer but will write more about this subject tonight. Anyway, I’m glad to see several of our elected leaders chose to do the ethical thing today.

Sorry but I don’t have the software on this computer to post the actual press release so you’re getting it plain text format.

I received the news and then minutes later the press release. We had just broken from training for lunch and were sitting around talking. I excused myself saying that i had to go blog this and not a single employee had a clue who Bill was or what I was talking about. It’s a great example of why these things occur and are allowed to go on in the first place. I wish more citizens took interest in their government.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Communications Office
January 6, 2009 (909) 684-9531

County Assessor Bill Postmus Addresses Board of Supervisors

SAN BERNARDINO – San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus today addressed the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Postmus spoke to the members of the county’s governing body in response to their invitation related to recent developments in the Office of County Assessor.

During the Board of Supervisors’ public comment period, Assessor Postmus delivered the following statement:

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

STATEMENT OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ASSESSOR BILL POSTMUS TO THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, January 6, 2009:

Good morning Mr. Chair and honourable members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

After much consideration and reflection, I have chosen to avail myself of the Board of Supervisors’ invitation to address some of the persistent questions that the Board has raised regarding my tenure as County Assessor.  I would also like to take this opportunity to address the voters of San Bernardino County who entrusted the Assessor’s Office to me and to frankly discuss my future as a duly elected public servant.
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Well I have to be up at 5 a.m., which explains why there are no news clippings on the site tonight nor any new entries til now. Unfortunately I cannot sleep and typing a blog entry on a Blackberry usually proves to be a good way to make me drowsy.

So why can’t I sleep? It’s no secret that few days go by where someone previously unknown to me contacts me about workplace harassment, or unethical behavior by a superior, or misuse of county property, or whatever. Most of the time I just say, “join the club” or “here’s the number to the fraud hotline,” but sometimes I want to say “go get a life” or laugh with them or cry with them. Then there is that occassional one that upsets me and I can’t get it off my mind. Such is the case tonight.

It started with a casual “do you know any reporters who will do a story about the falsification of records in my department?” Within minutes my stomach was turning hearing about the abuses.

My first inclination was to call George and see if he was interested. But I am a county employee too and I’m as sick as everyone else of the shame our elected and appointed officials have brought to all of us. I don’t want to see another scandal played out on the front pages of our local newspapers.

I’m writing this knowing full well that despite his denials to the contrary Mark Uffer will see this post whether it’s because his daughter told him about it or an HRO or DCC or he chose to sneek a peek. And it is situations like this one that cause me to have the negative feelings that I have for Mark.

More than anything else what Service First did to this county is create a group of despot managers and administrators. Mark will not admit when he has made a mistake in hiring or promoting someone. And such is the case in this situation.

In my heart I know Mark would care deeply about this situation. But I also know the employees would eventually be the ones to pay the price for their manager’s misdeeds as Mark will not admit when he is wrong.

I know what I’ve asked the employees to do to try to resolve this situation but I don’t believe they will take that chance for fear of losing their jobs in this economy. It doesn’t feel right to not bring the situation to the department head and Mark first, especially since it is a well-respected department both locally and at the state level. But I know from first-hand experience that Mark retaliates and does not keep his word. We don’t have a safe environment where county employees can speak their minds or voice their concerns. They will be labeled as troublemakers and retaliated against at every opportunity. That is the environment that Service First created and it’s too bad Mark supports it.

I’ve been getting all my Boxer connections added to my Facebook account as friends. I know Boxer people on just about every continent. Anyway, with my other Boxer lists everything is translated into English. But on Facebook it stays in the language in which it was written. I’ve not had trouble figuring out the Spanish or Italian and have had some luck with the French. But today I have a “Bisous” invitation and based on the icon and the warning that Facebook does not endorse this application, I am wondering what it is. So far everything I’ve found about it is in French. The instances where it is used in English are of no help. Can anyone tell me what I’d be getting myself into before I do it?

10:00 PM PST on Sunday, January 4, 2009

By JULIA GLICK
The Press-Enterprise

Riverside County supervisors are set to vote Tuesday on a revised ordinance to limit picketing at residences and outside the Church of Scientology’s base in Gilman Hot Springs.

The proposed ordinance, supported by the church and Supervisor Jeff Stone, would restrict picketing to 50 feet beyond the property line of a targeted residence or to an across-the-street sidewalk.
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07:39 PM PST on Saturday, January 3, 2009

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Republican lawmakers representing the Inland area have always been heavily outnumbered by Democrats in the Capitol. Many GOP bills die early deaths and Republicans can do little more than complain about most legislation pushed by Democrats.
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The Sun has printed this story several times and I’m not sure why. I decided to put it back up on the blog. I wrote my comments over on the Sun’s site if you want to see them. I do think this is the right thing to do.

Lauren McSherry, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/04/2009 12:16:08 AM PST

With the outlook of a bleak budget looming, Supervisor Neil Derry is calling for San Bernardino County to reconsider and possibly put a stop to the benefits it gives to Superior Court judges.

“This has been a concern - just nothing has been done about it,” Derry said. “Now, we’ve got legal reasons for looking at it as well.”
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January 2, 2009 - 3:08 PM
NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • The county aims to improve services for High Desert residents with a new government center in Hesperia and dozens of public works projects slated for completion in 2009, according to 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.
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Posted: 01/03/2009 05:26:41 PM PST

We’re starting off 2009 with a help-wanted ad. As the new year begins, we’re looking for readers to become members of The Sun’s Editorial Board.

If you are a keen observer of local government and civic affairs who has opinions about how to make San Bernardino County a better place to live and work, you might be one of the readers we want.
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January 2, 2009 - 11:46 AM
BEATRIZ E. VALENZUELA Staff Writer

VICTORVILLE • Residents of Victorville are more likely to become victims of violent crime than residents of Los Angeles, according to a recent study.

Victorville ranked number 152 of 385 cities in the CQ Press “City Crime Rankings 2008-2009,” with New Orleans taking the top spot as most dangerous. Los Angeles was six places below Victorville at 158.
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When I took the part-time Christmas job working for the USPS many years ago it became quite apparent rather quickly why the act of killing one’s supervisors and co-workers in sudden act of frenzied violence was synonymous with working for the USPS. I used to marvel at their hiring and firing practices and the way in which they treated subordinates. And the sheer stupidity of management.
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07:57 PM PST on Friday, January 2, 2009

By JIM MILLER
Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Democratic state lawmakers representing the Inland area exist in two different worlds.

They hold just a handful of the legislative seats in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. But, in Sacramento, they are part of large Democratic majorities that dominate the business of both houses.
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10:00 PM PST on Thursday, January 1, 2009

CASSIE MACDUFF

Sometimes common sense and the letter of the law don’t jibe.

Take for instance the recent California Supreme Court decision upholding a San Bernardino County judge who required a man on probation for drunken driving to notify his probation officer if he got a pet.
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By Joe Smilor on January 2, 2009 7:29 PM

On New Year’s Eve, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration released a new budget proposal in an attempt to ward off the imminent fiscal crisis faced by the state.

Earlier in December, Democrats in the Legislature passed a revised budget, but it remained to be seen if the governor would sign it. A number of Republicans said they opposed the budget because it included tax increases.
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I don’t remember the story at the bottom although it must have appeared on my old blog. I can tell you that the claims made in that story by the county differ greatly from what my inside sources have told me including that Bill and Adam got into an argument over Eyler’s time cards because Adam denied the time Eyler was in school and Bill overruled him and paid him for that time.

By Lauren McSherry on January 2, 2009 4:26 PM

It’s looks like come Tuesday two top administrative staffers in the Assessor’s Office could be out of jobs.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on terminating the positions held by Greg Eyler and Ted Lehrer. Some of you may be familiar with Eyler. The Sun published a story about him after the grand jury report was released over the summer. (The story is pasted below.)
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Vet saves family’s dog with free surgery
January 2, 2009 - 12:24 PM
NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer

HESPERIA • Bawling like a baby, Cheri Taylor said goodbye to her family dog at Hesperia Animal Hospital the day after Christmas. She couldn’t afford to pay $3,000 for the major surgery that her 13-month-old pit bull needed to survive, so Taylor paid about $350 to put her down.
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I’ve had several bloggers ask me about the overtime at TAD. The dates I’ve been given are January 9, 10, 12, 16 and 17. One has to wonder where the money is coming from. We all know. I just don’t understand how county administrators can condone such lousy management skills.

Rep. Ken calvert: Poor showing in voter turnout and registration won’t happen again, the Republican says.

08:10 PM PST on Thursday, January 1, 2009

By BEN GOAD
Washington Bureau

Inland Rep. Ken Calvert may spend much of his time in Washington, but he always keeps his watch set on California time.

The Corona Republican speaks fondly and often of the weekends and congressional breaks he spends among constituents in his home district. But after winning a ninth term by a narrow margin Nov. 4, Calvert acknowledged that he’ll have to spend more time working with local party officials if he wants to win a 10th term in 2010.
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The story below reminded me about this subject. I’ve been meaning to write this every since the VTO memo came out.

The single biggest complaint I hear from employees is that they feel they are kept in the dark. I have received numerous emails from employees wanting to know what the VTO post was about. That is because although Mark Uffer sent it to all departments, not all department heads sent it to employees. I wonder how many employees who took time off at Christmas would have been willing to take VTO rather than vacation. Many employees do not realize that VTO can be an option. Many employees still don’t know that VTO can be an option because they DIDN’T GET THE MEMO!!!
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