January 2009 Archives
In response to the needs of clients who may be affected by the change in service providers, the county is discontinuing its contract with the Inland Aids Project (IAP) to administer Ryan White Part A and B services beginning Feb. 21.
The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health has developed a plan to transition the approximately 700 clients currently served by the IAP to other agencies contracted to provide the same services in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
The new plan was developed to ensure disruption of services is minimized.
The Ryan White Program was established to provide HIV health care and support services to persons affected by the disease who do not have access to other resources.
"While it is the primary responsibility of the Public Health Department to serve those in greatest need of health services, it must simultaneously ensure that contracted service providers are held accountable to local, state and federal requirements," said Maxwell Ohikhuare, public health officer for San Bernardino County. "This is especially important in light of our shrinking resources and increasing community needs."
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
A former Loma Linda surgeon has surrendered his license for his role in a fraudulent Medi-Cal billing scheme.
Donald Lew Bedney surrendered his license Tuesday to the Medical Board of California. He was arrested and charged in March 2006 on suspicion of grand theft, presenting fraudulent Medi-Cal claims, defrauding Medi-Cal, unlawfully obtaining personal identification information and commiting perjury, according to information posted on the Medical Board of California's Web site.
In February 2007, the complaint against Bedney was amended to include an allegation of accessory to a felony.
Bedney pleaded no contest to the misdemanor accessory to a felony charge and was placed on probation for three years, ordered to serve one day in jail, and pay restitution. All other charges were dismissed.
Hedney's attorney, Richard A. Moss, said Friday his client was exploited by another doctor, Christopher Ajigbotafe, in the scheme. He said Bedney gave Ajigbotafe his Medi-Cal number, but was unaware it would be used for fraudulent billing purposes.
Moss said his client, who is in his 70s and a graduate of Stanford Medical School, is in ill health and agreed to surrender his license to avoid the stress of a hearing before the Medical Board.
"Rather than fighting it or, rather, attempting to get a grant of probation, Dr. Bedney decided he did not want to go through the rigors of a hearing," Moss said.
Ajigbotafe, who couldn't be reached for comment Friday, was initially charged in June 2007 with numerous felony offenses including grand theft, presenting fraudulent Medi-Cal claims, defrauding Medi-Cal, unlawfully obtaining personal identification information, unlawfully using personal identification, paying kickbacks, bribes and rebates, issuing an illegal prescription and failing to file income taxes.
Like Bedney, Ajigbotafe's list of offenses dwindled to one: failure to file his income taxes. He surrendered his license in July after pleading no contest to the charge.
Ajigbotafe was sentenced to 180 days in jail, placed on three years probation and ordered to pay restitution.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
San Bernardino County's Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales will host a forum from 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Behavioral Health Resource Center in Rialto to help local nonprofit organizations secure funding from major foundations.
The "Meet the Funders" forum will feature representatives from the Archstone Foundation, California Wellness Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Programs, Union Pacific Foundation and the Weingart Foundation.
Daniel Foster, president and CEO of The Community Foundation serving San Bernardino and Riverside counties, will moderate a panel discussion to educate local organizations on how to effectively approach these foundations for grants focused in the areas of human services, education, community and civic engagement, youth and the arts.
"San Bernardino County nonprofits need to het their fair share of the financial pie," Gonzales said in a prepared statement.
The forum will also include two training sessions covering salient board development issues, and effective research data techniques to support grant proposals.
The Behavioral Health Resource Center is located at 850 E. Foothill Blvd. in Rialto.
To register and view the agenda, fo to the County grants Office Web page at http://www.sbcounty.gov/GrantsOffice/
Proponents of a recall against disgraced San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus will file a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Friday at the Registrar's of Voters office, said Sam Clauder, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee and a recall supporter.
A steering committee will be formed, campaign statements filed, and an account opened and managed under the supervision of an independent certified campaign accountant before petitions begin circulation.
A news conference will follow at 4 p.m., Clauder said.
Ten percent of San Bernardino County's registered voters must sign the petition to warrant a special election or to get a ballot on the Nov. 3 county special districts election.
As of Monday, Jan. 26, there were a reported 836,518 registered voters in San Bernardino County. That means 83,616 valid signatures are needed. At 72 percent validity, a total of 116,500 signatures would actually be needed, Clauder said.
Postmus has seven calendar days to respond to the notice of intent, then, recall proponents have up to 10 days thereafter to file the actual petition, Clauder said.
That would start the 160-day clock to gather the more than 100,000 signatures needed for the recall, Clauder said.
Postmus faces removal from office following his arrest earlier this month at his Rancho Cucamonga home on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. It occurred during the serving of a search warrant at his residence by investigators from the District Attorney's office, who are investigating allegations of cronyism and political malfeasance at the Assessor's office.
It came on the heels of a grand jury report last year criticizing Postmus for hiring unqualified staff, essentially his friends, and using his office to help fuel his political endeavors.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved a $250,000 contract with the attorney who prosecuted key figures in the Enron case to investigate Postmus and see what the county's legal standing is to remove Postmus from office. Attorney John Hueston will report to the board on March 3 with an update.
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $8 million plan to replace againg dispatch consoles with more modern equipment, which will improve communication between emergency responders in and outside of San Bernardino County.
The existing consoles are about 20 years old and do not allow clear communication between San Bernardino County's emergency responders and those from outside agencies that use digital communication systems, according to a news release from Second District Supervisor Paul Biane.
In addition, the new consoles will provide emergency dispatchers with modern features that will allow them to communicate better with responders in the field.
"Seamless communication is critical during an emergency, and this major upgrade to our dispatch equipment will greatly enhance the county's ability to coordinate with agencies during major incidents that require outside assistance," Biane said in the news release.
The county's Information Services Department, which operates and maintains the county's 800 MHz radio communication system, secured $5.1 million from the Department of Homeland Security to help purchase the consoles.
SOURCE: News release
Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) reintroduced legislation today pushing for a special-rate postage stamp that would help fund gang prevention education.
Proceeds from the sale of the special-rate stamp would fund the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program. The Stamp out Gang Violence Act allows consumers who wish to contribute to anti-gang programs to purchase the new stamp, which can be used for first-class mail.
"It is essential we continue to work to provide our schools and communities with the assistance neccessary to keep more kids out of gangs, and get more crime off the streets," Baca said in a news release.
Baca first introduced the Stamp out Gang Violence Act in February 2007.
Opponents of a proposal to erect an 80-foot-tall radio tower near Wildwood Canyon State Park won a victory Tuesday when the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors rejected the plan.
It capped a three-year fight by Yucaipa residents and conservationists to prevent Oxnard-based Lazer Boradcasting Inc., which operates a total of 20 Spanish radio stations in California and Oregon, from building the tower.
Plans initially called for the construction of a 140-foot-tall tower and a 500-gallon propane tank on 38 acres west of Pisgah Peak Road and north of Wildwood Canyon Road. The tower project was scaled down to 80 feet following protest, but didn't appease opponents.
"We've been fighting it all the way from the beginning," said Yucaipa resident Frank Sissons, who sits on the Yucaipa Valley Conservancy's board of directors. "There are a lot of people who believe the park is a unique feature of our area, and we would like to keep it that way."
On Nov. 6, the San Bernardino County Planning Commission approved the project on a 4-1 vote. On Nov. 17, the grassroots group Citizens for Preservation of Rural Living, which gathered more than 1,000 petition signatures, appealed the Planning Commission's approval to the Board of Supervisors. The group asserted that a full environmental impact report should be required based on the project's location.
Third District Supervisor Neil Derry, whose district includes Yucaipa, said the park exists because of the push by citizens to maintain the area's natural landscape in perpetuity and keep it out of the reach of developers.
"The project would have had a significant visual impact on the park and was universally opposed by the community," Derry said.
He said Lazer Broadcasting should pursue tower locations closer to Hemet, the area the radio tower would serve.
Representatives for Lazer Broadcasting couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.
Yucaipa City Councilman Tom Masner said Wednesday he was happy with the outcome.
"It is a pristine location, and certainly this is a good thing - not having that big monolith sticking up out of the ground," he said.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
U.S. Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, introduced a resolution in the House Tuesday to honor members of the military from the Inland Empire who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their families.
The resolution also says the House supports high-quality medical care for wounded soldiers and encourages Americans to support returning troops. The resolution also commends Inland Empire residents and organizations who have volunteered to suppport wounded soldiers.
"As Americans, we must do all we can to recognize this profound service, and thank these courageous individuals," Baca said in a statement. "My resolution would bring Congressional recognition to the military men and women of the Inland Empire, while also encouraging everyone to show greater support and thanks for the sacrifices our military men and women make."
The Board of Supervisors Tuesday commissioned the Walnut Creek-based Arbaris Group to study the county's trauma system.
The county currently has two trauma centers, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton and Loma Linda University Medical Center.
The study, which will cost $98,855 and should be completed by April 1, will evaluate the county's current trauma needs and projected needs as the population grows, according to a news release from First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.
"The existing trauma centers in our County are world-class facilities, but they're located on the southern border of our County and are separated from the rest of our County by mountains, deserts and great distances," Mitzelfelt said in a statement. "There are no trauma centers in the High Desert, which is something I hope this study will show needs to change."
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors appointed Assistant Sheriff Rod Hoops today to complete the term of Sheriff Gary Penrod, who is retiring after 37 years with the department.
Hoops, 52, of Highland, has served as assistant sheriff since 2005, overseeing the patrol, specialized investigations and narcotics divisions, among other areas.
Hoops said one of his first orders of business after he is sworn in on Feb. 3 will be addressing the department's strapped budget and how to do more with less.
Hoops, 52, of Highland, has served as assistant sheriff since 2005, overseeing the patrol, specialized investigations and narcotics divisions, among other areas.
Hoops said one of his first orders of business after he is sworn in on Feb. 3 will be addressing the department's strapped budget and how to do more with less.
"We're in unchartered waters. We're not sure where this is going to go," Hoops said.
The board presented outgoing Sheriff Gary Penrod with a crystal plaque, and thanked him for his distinguished career in San Bernardino County, having worked as a deputy and other various ranks in Big Bear Lake, Hesperia, Barstow and across the San Bernardino Valley.
"I truly believe you exemplify excellence," Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales told Penrod.
First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said Penrod made it easier for the county to work with the Sheriff's Department in making the county safer, and board Chairman Gary Ovitt said Penrod reminded him of 'Andy Griffith in Mayberry.'
Hoops, a 30-year department veteran, is currently responsible for department-wide operations. He started out as a patrol deputy in the west end of the San Bernardino Valley in 1979. Five years later, he was promoted to detective and assigned to the department's Career Criminal/SWAT division.
In 1986, Hoops was promoted to sergeant and served as the department's legislative liaison in Sacramento. He was promoted in 1989 to lieutenant and worked in the public affairs and research and planning divisions, as well as the central station and training academy in Devore.
When he was promoted to captain in 1995, Hoops was assigned to employee services, then went on to command the Rancho Cucamonga station for five years before being reassigned to the bureau of administration.
He was promoted to deputy chief in 2003 and then assistant sheriff in 2005.
Hoops holds a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice and a masters degree in public administration from Cal State Fullerton.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
The board presented outgoing Sheriff Gary Penrod with a crystal plaque, and thanked him for his distinguished career in San Bernardino County, having worked as a deputy and other various ranks in Big Bear Lake, Hesperia, Barstow and across the San Bernardino Valley.
"I truly believe you exemplify excellence," Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales told Penrod.
First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said Penrod made it easier for the county to work with the Sheriff's Department in making the county safer, and board Chairman Gary Ovitt said Penrod reminded him of 'Andy Griffith in Mayberry.'
Hoops, a 30-year department veteran, is currently responsible for department-wide operations. He started out as a patrol deputy in the west end of the San Bernardino Valley in 1979. Five years later, he was promoted to detective and assigned to the department's Career Criminal/SWAT division.
In 1986, Hoops was promoted to sergeant and served as the department's legislative liaison in Sacramento. He was promoted in 1989 to lieutenant and worked in the public affairs and research and planning divisions, as well as the central station and training academy in Devore.
When he was promoted to captain in 1995, Hoops was assigned to employee services, then went on to command the Rancho Cucamonga station for five years before being reassigned to the bureau of administration.
He was promoted to deputy chief in 2003 and then assistant sheriff in 2005.
Hoops holds a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice and a masters degree in public administration from Cal State Fullerton.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
The former lead prosecutor in the Enron trial has been hired by the county to investigate disgraced Assessor Bill Postmus.
John Hueston, from the Los Angeles-based law firm Irell & Manella LLP, will investigate the county's options in forcing the embattled Postmus, who faces criminal charges of drug possession, from office.
The county has budgeted $250,000 to pay the law firm to begin the investigation. Hueston will report to the board on March 3 with a report on his findings.
John Hueston, from the Los Angeles-based law firm Irell & Manella LLP, will investigate the county's options in forcing the embattled Postmus, who faces criminal charges of drug possession, from office.
The county has budgeted $250,000 to pay the law firm to begin the investigation. Hueston will report to the board on March 3 with a report on his findings.
The county is seeking outside counsel in the Postmus matter to avert the perception of bias. It chose Irell & Manella for its stellar reputation, immediate availability and ability to get to the bottom of the Postmus matter in the most timelty manner possible.
"It has a lot of expertise in public corruption and looking into corporate entities," County Counsel Ruth Stringer said during today's Board of Supervisors meeting in San Bernardino.
Some criticized the county's move during the public comment portion of the meeting, and said a recall would be more suitable in that it would save the taxpayers.
"It would certainly be the most expeditious and economic solution," said Sam Clauder, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee.
San Bernardino attorney Allen Bartleman questioned why the county would pay a quarter of a million dollars to have an outside law firm investigate Postmus when house counsel can do it, and take steps to avoid the appearance of impartiality.
"A legal firewall can be set up within the county counsel's office to insulate against any conflict of interest," Bartleman said. He said he was "disgusted" by the board's waste of taxpayer money.
Stringer said a firewall wold not resolve a legal conflict, but didn't elaborate.
Investigators with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, on Jan. 15 at his Rancho Cucamonga townhouse during the serving of a search warrant. It was one of 10 warrants served in San Bernardino and Orange counties as part of the District Attorney's ongoing investigation into political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office.
A grand jury report last year criticized the Assessor's Office, charging cronyism and alleging Postmus' staff engaged in partisan politics within the office, on county time. The investigation is ongoing, and Postmus has not been charged with any crime.
Postmus posted bail and was released from the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga the day of his arrest.
A former lead prosecutor for the Enron trial of Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, Hueston also devotes a substantial part of his practice to internal investigations, corporate crisis management and white collar criminal defense. He serves as co-chair of his firm's Corporate Crisis and White Collar Criminal Defense practice. California Lawyer magazine named Hueston a 2007 "California Attorney of the Year," according to the firm's web site.
Some criticized the county's move during the public comment portion of the meeting, and said a recall would be more suitable in that it would save the taxpayers.
"It would certainly be the most expeditious and economic solution," said Sam Clauder, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee.
San Bernardino attorney Allen Bartleman questioned why the county would pay a quarter of a million dollars to have an outside law firm investigate Postmus when house counsel can do it, and take steps to avoid the appearance of impartiality.
"A legal firewall can be set up within the county counsel's office to insulate against any conflict of interest," Bartleman said. He said he was "disgusted" by the board's waste of taxpayer money.
Stringer said a firewall wold not resolve a legal conflict, but didn't elaborate.
Investigators with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, on Jan. 15 at his Rancho Cucamonga townhouse during the serving of a search warrant. It was one of 10 warrants served in San Bernardino and Orange counties as part of the District Attorney's ongoing investigation into political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office.
A grand jury report last year criticized the Assessor's Office, charging cronyism and alleging Postmus' staff engaged in partisan politics within the office, on county time. The investigation is ongoing, and Postmus has not been charged with any crime.
Postmus posted bail and was released from the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga the day of his arrest.
A former lead prosecutor for the Enron trial of Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, Hueston also devotes a substantial part of his practice to internal investigations, corporate crisis management and white collar criminal defense. He serves as co-chair of his firm's Corporate Crisis and White Collar Criminal Defense practice. California Lawyer magazine named Hueston a 2007 "California Attorney of the Year," according to the firm's web site.
Hueston is in a deposition today and was unavailable for comment.
Less than three weeks after she was convicted for attempted murder, transportation of drugs and possession of drugs in jail, San Manuel tribal member Stacy Nunez-Barajas violated six terms of her probation.
Prosecutor Douglas Poston detailed those violations in a petition filed Friday in San Bernardino Superior Court during a probation revocation hearing. Judge Michael Dest continued the hearing to March 27, due primarily to scheduling conflicts.
Nunez-Barajas, 26, has been in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga since her Nov. 21 arrest outside San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino on suspicion of trespassing. She had previously been banned from the casino by the tribe. She was ordered to violate no law at the time of her sentencing.
She and her brother, Erik Barajas, 36, were sentenced on Nov. 6 to probation and electronic monitoring for their role in a conspiracy with high ranking members of the Mexican Mafia to kill Leonard Epps in 2006. The conspiracy stemmed from an altercation Epps and Erik Barajas had at the now closed Brass Key bar in Highland, where Epps worked as manager.
Epps, who remains in hiding, has filed a $50 million civil suit against the Barajases, the tribe, former tribal chairman Henry Duro and casino manager Ron Mastandrea. Epps alleges that the Barajases used the VIP room at the casino to plan his murder, and passed his picture around to co-conspirators, according to the lawsuit.
San Manuel tribal Chairman James Ramos declined to comment Friday on the allegations in the Epps lawsuit.
According to Poston's petition, Nunez-Barajas failed to provide a copy of the terms of her probation to the deputy at the time of her arrest. That's because she didn't have a copy of those terms in her possession, as was ordered by the court.
In jail, she made several phone calls to convicted felon and gang member Jose Haro, whom Poston prosecuted along with Haro's brother, according to the petition.
Nunez-Barajas was ordered by the court not to associate with convicted felons or gang members at the time of her sentencing.
In addition, Nunez-Barajas failed to report immediately to the facility which administers electronic monitoring following her sentencing, as ordered by Dest. She didn't make that trip until a week later, on Nov. 13.
Nunez-Barajas' attorney, Albert Perez Jr., requested during Friday's brief hearing that bail be set for his client. Dest denied the request, citing public safety issues and Nunez-Barajas' exposure to lengthy prison time as a factor that could make her a potential flight risk, among other things.
Nunez-Barajas faces a maximum of 21 years in prison.
Nunez-Barajas' mother, Rachel Barajas, said her daughter is being unfairly singled out and punished by the tribe. The tribal council voted in December on a referendum to ban the Barajas siblings from the reservation for an undiclosed period of time and to fine each of them a substantial amount of money.
"They want to condemn her and put her away forever, anything they can find on her to keep her in (jail)," Rachel Barajas said outside the courtroom following Friday's proceedings.
Ramos said the tribe's actions are about holding errant tribal members accountable for their actions and maintaining the safety of tribal members, patrons and employees at the casino. He said the tribe's actions are not a personal vendetta for the black eye the Barajases have infliced upon the tribe and its casino.
Rachel Barajas said the public isn't seeing the good side of her daughter.
"Every time you guys talk about her, it's bad. Nothing good is ever said about her," Barajas said.
She said her daughter has a big heart, and never hesitates to do good when she sees a person in need. Most recently, Nunez-Barajas heard a news report about a Riverside family trying to scrape up enough money to bury their son.
"We were driving in the car, and she said, 'Mom, let's go,'" said Barajas of her daughter. She said the two drove to Riverside and gave $1,000 to the family.
"Families and people begging in the street, she'll stop and get them something to eat," Barajas said.
She said other tribal members have had scrapes with the law and have been given second chances. She believes her daughter deserves the same treatment.
"Everybody deserves a second chance, and they know what I'm talking about," Barajas said.
Perez said he's hoping to reach a stipulation agreement with the District Attorney's Office as to his client's disposition before the March 27 hearing.
Poston said that is unlikely.
"Given the (prison) exposure she's (Nunez-Barajas) facing, I don't see that happening," Poston said. "There will be a hearing."
The San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Program has finalized an agreement with Dog's Day Inn in the Victor Valley to accept stray and unwanted animals found in unincorporated areas of the High Desert.
Dog's Day Inn began accepting stray animals on Jan. 1. The facility is located at 19575 Bear Valley Rd., in Apple Valley. Phone: (760) 961-7535.
In unincorporated areas of the San Bernardino Valley, stray and unwanted animals can be taken to the county animal shelter in Devore, located at 19777 Shelter Way. Phone: (909) 887-8055.
If you are looking for a lost pet and want to see if one of the county shelters has it, you can go to the county animal control Web site at www.sbcounty.gov/acc
For more information, call 800-472-5609.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously during a special meeting today to hire an outside law firm to investigate whether the county has enough legal ground to oust disgraced Assessor Bill Postmus from office.
The board will decide which law firm to hire at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, then direct the selected law firm to report to the board on March 3 with an update.
Investigators with the District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, Jan. 15 at his Rancho Cucamonga home on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The contraband was discovered during the serving of a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office.
The board will decide which law firm to hire at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, then direct the selected law firm to report to the board on March 3 with an update.
Investigators with the District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, Jan. 15 at his Rancho Cucamonga home on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The contraband was discovered during the serving of a search warrant as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office.
Following an 11-week medically-related leave of absence from work, Postmus made an unannounced appearance before the board on Jan. 6, where he admitted to having kicked a drug addiction. He didn't disclose which drug or drugs he had been addicted to.
"This alarming progression of events has been characterized by the Assessor's repeated efforts to avoid accountability and an arrogant disregard for his responsibility to demonstrate that he is capable of carrying out the duties of the office to which he was elected," board Chairman Gary Ovitt said. "This entire matter has become a significant distraction to the county."
An ordinance adopted by the county 90 years ago provides the board to remove from office, by a four-fifths vote by the board, any elected county official. In 2002, the ordinance was amended, adding several sections to the existing code establishing clearer standards of conduct for elected officials.
"The removal of an elected county officer is an extraordinary act and should occur in only the most egregious of circumstances and only when the interests of the citizens of the county cannot be reasonably served by any other means. These circumstances include the exposure of the county, or its employees, to irreparable harm," the ordinance reads.
"This alarming progression of events has been characterized by the Assessor's repeated efforts to avoid accountability and an arrogant disregard for his responsibility to demonstrate that he is capable of carrying out the duties of the office to which he was elected," board Chairman Gary Ovitt said. "This entire matter has become a significant distraction to the county."
An ordinance adopted by the county 90 years ago provides the board to remove from office, by a four-fifths vote by the board, any elected county official. In 2002, the ordinance was amended, adding several sections to the existing code establishing clearer standards of conduct for elected officials.
"The removal of an elected county officer is an extraordinary act and should occur in only the most egregious of circumstances and only when the interests of the citizens of the county cannot be reasonably served by any other means. These circumstances include the exposure of the county, or its employees, to irreparable harm," the ordinance reads.
San Bernardino County is the only county in the state that has such an ordinance included in its charter, county spokesman David Wert said.
About $250,000 will be budgeted to begin the process of hiring a law firm and getting the investigation off and running. The county doesn't anticipate paying more than $1 million for the duration of the investigation, Wert said.
The county is hiring an outside law firm to avoid the perception of bias on the county's part and to ensure that an impartial party is investigating the matter, Wert said.
Assistant Assessor Dennis Draeger declined to comment.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
About $250,000 will be budgeted to begin the process of hiring a law firm and getting the investigation off and running. The county doesn't anticipate paying more than $1 million for the duration of the investigation, Wert said.
The county is hiring an outside law firm to avoid the perception of bias on the county's part and to ensure that an impartial party is investigating the matter, Wert said.
Assistant Assessor Dennis Draeger declined to comment.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
A marijuana advocay group is alleging the Board of Supervisors violated the state's open meeting law by failing to disclose publicly its decision to appeal its lawsuit challenging California's medical marijuana law to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The nonprofit Marijuana Policy Project maintains that the board, at its Aug. 26 meeting, voted in a closed-door session to appeal its joint lawsuit with San Diego County to the state Supreme Court after a San Diego County judge ruled in favor of the state.
When the board returned to the dais to continue its meeting, it failed to mention its decision to those in attendance, the nonprofit alleges.
If the two counties prevail in their lawsuit, neither would be required to issue identification cards to legitimate medical marijuana patients.
The state Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal, so, the counties' appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which received the case on Jan. 12, county spokesman David Wert said. He said the county expects to learn of the court's decision within 90 days.
Wert said the board did not violate California's open meeting law, the Ralph M. Brown Act. He said when the two counties teamed up in 2006, it was with the understanding that the litigation would be appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. No further action was required, Wert said.
"They're assuming . . . that the board took some action in that closed session, and there was no action taken," Wert said.
Since September, the nonprofit has sent two letters to the District Attorney's Office requesting an investigation, said Aaron Smith, California policy director for the Marijuana Policy Project.
The complaints are currently under review.
"If they find enough to look into they'll open up an investigation," said Susan Mickey, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office.
If an investigation is launched, the county will be completely vindicated, Wert said.
"The DA's office will quickly find that there was no violation of the Brown Act," Wert said.
In response to allegations that the lawsuit is a waste of time, taxpayer money and county resources, Wert said San Diego County has conducted all the legal research and all the court filings.
"They've gone through all the expense in this case," he said.
The following is a calendar listing of events for the Democratic Luncheon Club of San Bernardino:
* Jan. 23 - Inauguration Reports
* Jan. 30 - Guest speakers John Barry and Eyad Joseph of the Art Institute of CA.
* Feb. 6 - To be announced
For more information, contact Mark Alvarez at (909)882 5819 or visit the club's Web site at www.sbdems.com
The Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting at 1 p.m. today to discuss options for removing county Assessor Bill Postmus from office.
Investigators from the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office arrested Postmus, 37, last week at his home on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They discovered the contraband during the service of a search warrant, one of 10 served in San Bernardino and Orange counties as part of an ongoing investigation into political malfeasance at the Assessor's office.
On Jan. 6, Postmus, following an 11-week medical leave from work, stood before the Board of Supervisors and told them he had "beat" his drug addiction and would not seek re-election in 2010. It came on the heels of a grand jury report that criticized him and his staff for engaging in party politics on the county's dime and hiring unqualified executive level staff.
The investigation is still ongoing, and Postmus has yet to be formally charged.
Despite the scandal that has enveloped Postmus and some of his staff, firing him is proving to be a not-so-easy task. One thing, however, is a certainty: The county has more ammunition in its arsenal now.
"Something needs to be done now," said Burt Southard, spokesman for Fourth District Gary Ovitt, chairman of the board. "All the supervisors feel betrayed by his (Postmus') comments at the Jan. 6 meeting. But the county is being very careful about how it goes about this process."
A cacophony of popping champagne corks and thunderous applause erupted inside a conference room at the San Bernardino Public Employees Association Tuesday morning.
About 100 members of the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee toasted the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, during an Inauguration Breakfast.
"It means the beginning of an era, an era of hope and change - one we've been looking forward to for more than eight years," said Sam Clauder, spokesman for the committee.
About 100 committee members dined on quiche, muffins and other delectables while watching the inauguration on a large projection screen flanked by star-shaped balloons imprinted with patterns of Old Glory.
John Longville, a trustee of the San Bernardino Community College District and former state Assemblyman, considers Obama one of the most intelligent and articulate Presidents ever.
"I trust his judgement to do things in the most effective way possible," Longville said. "It's almost unbelievable we could do this well, given how bad we've done in the last two elections."
After Obama took his oath, Clauder handed out bottles of Andre champagne. Corks popped and glasses were raised in a toast to a more promising future.
They heckled outgoing President George W. Bush, waving to the screen and saying "bye bye" as Bush boarded a helicopter with his wife and flew off into history as one of the most controversial Presidents our nation has ever seen.
Then, they auctioned off a roll of toilet paper with Bush's face imprinted on it for $30.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com, (909) 386-3874
Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto) has been appointed chair of the state Budget Subcommittee 2 on Education Finance for the 2009 legislative session.
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass appointed Carter to the position.
"The appointment will help in my efforts to ensure that programs most important to our students are protected," Carter said in a news release.
The committee has an impact on funding for K-12 and higher education.
Carter has also been appointed to the Utilities and Commerce and Education committees and will continue to serve on the Health and Insurance committees, as well as chair the Select Committee on Inland Empire transportation.
Detectives investigating San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus fanned out across Southern California on Thursday morning seeking evidence of political malfeasance but stumbled across something else - his stash of methamphetamine, authorities said.
One of the county's top political players was promptly arrested at his Rancho Cucamonga town house. But the political scandal is likely still unraveling.
A copy of the search warrant obtained by The Sun indicates investigators are looking deeper into Postmus' involvement in land deals and state and local political networks. The office and home of Jim Erwin, formerly Postmus' assistant and now chief of staff for Supervisor Neil Derry, were also searched.
By the end of the morning, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office served 10 search warrants in six cities, San Bernardino, Highland, Apple Valley, Victorville, Rancho Cucamonga and Rancho Santa Margarita in Orange County.
Postmus, 37, has been under investigation following a grand jury report released last June that said he misused the power of his office. He was arrested at 7:10 a.m. Thursday on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Supervisor Gary Ovitt said he was worried that Postmus' arrest would hurt the county's reputation and spoke with disappointment about the arrest.
"If you look at the entire story, Bill Postmus was our rising star in the county and was well thought of by state officials," said Ovitt, who became chairman of the board last month. "To think that today he was arrested for drug usage. It's truly something we're really saddened by. He had so much promise."
Postmus was booked at 10:47 a.m. at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga and later posted $11,450 in bail. Postmus left the jail around 3:40 p.m., but he would not answer any questions during his short walk from the lobby to a car that picked him up. Charges have yet to be filed, and it is unclear when Postmus will be arraigned, officials said.
For more than a year, several sources close to the assessor had said he battled a methamphetamine addiction and, at least twice, sought help at drug rehabilitation centers. In a Jan. 6 speech before the Board of Supervisors, Postmus said that he had overcome a drug addiction. He said he would not seek re-election.
The district attorney launched a criminal investigation last year on the heels of a grand jury inquiry, which found that Postmus used his elected office to engage in party politics and hired an underqualified executive level staff that worked for the GOP on county time.
Adam Aleman, a longtime friend of Postmus who formerly was assistant assessor, was arrested June 30 and charged with six felonies related to destroying and altering evidence sought by the grand jury.
At 9 a.m. Thursday, three investigators and a fourth county employee left Postmus' office, carrying a box filled with manila envelopes and a PC hard drive. They loaded the box into a car and swiftly drove off.
Erwin and Postmus had a falling out during the October 2007 wildfires, and Erwin left his position after receiving a large severance package.
Erwin could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Derry said investigators asked him about Erwin's involvement in political action committees and the Colonies Partners, a developer that benefited from a controversial settlement with the county. But none of it had to do with activities in the 3rd District, he said.
"The DA told me personally that this is related solely to the investigation into the Assessor's Office," Derry said. "My thought on this is it's related to any information that Adam Aleman would have given them, in as much as Adam Aleman is facing six felonies, and I have no doubt he would do anything that he could do to save his own skin."
Ovitt sought to dispel any questions clinging to the 3rd District office.
"Regarding today's searches, it would be wrong to assume that anyone or any office subjected to a search is the target of an investigation," he said in a statement issued earlier in the day. "Search warrants are tools used by investigators to ensure they receive all pertinent information in connection with an investigation."
A search warrant for the Assessor's Office shows that investigators were looking to seize any documents related to the company Triland Inc. and a number of political action committees - the Inland Empire Political Action Committee, Committee to Elect Bill Postmus and Conservatives for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee.
Triland is the company listed on deeds for properties in the High Desert that are owned by Postmus and his business partner, developer Dino Defazio.
According to the warrant, a copy of an e-mail sent by Aleman on June 28 referencing "I.E. checks" was also seized.
The e-mail mentioned supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt and Neil Derry, former state Senate candidate Tony Strickland and former Assembly candidate Bob Smith. A card to Postmus from former Assembly candidate Nathan Fletcher was also seized, as was a letter from former Republican nominee for state attorney general Charles Poochigian.
"I have no idea why my name was in it," said Mitzelfelt late Thursday, adding that he, like the other names involved in the e-mail, are politicians, which might explain the interaction.
Ted Lehrer, spokesman for the Assessor's Office, issued assurances Thursday that the department was continuing to function as usual.
"Today's development in no way will harm the operations of the office and do not affect the nearly 200 employees who work here," he said.
Assemblyman Anthony Adams, once Postmus' political ally and an early supporter, said he was shocked by the assessor's arrest and hoped Postmus would resign.
"I pray that these allegations are found to be unwarranted," he said, "but my heart goes out to Bill's family and friends as they are going to need to intervene and surround him with the support he needs."
David Wert, county spokesman, said the day's events will have little effect on the removal process initiated by the board in December.
"At first blush it doesn't appear that what happened today changes anything," Wert said. "There's been an arrest, but no charges, certainly no conviction. ... Needless to say, the board members are deeply concerned about today's developments and are wondering if the assessor was telling the truth when he appeared before the board Jan. 6 and said he had beaten his drug problem."
Wert said the supervisors could choose to retain an attorney to pursue removing Postmus from office as early as their next meeting on Jan. 27.
"County counsel has been in contact with some attorneys who are interested in that function, but has not made a selection yet to recommend to the board," Wert said.
Supervisor Paul Biane urged Postmus to leave office to deal with "his demons."
"If Bill, as it appears, is still struggling with drug addiction, it's my hope he will take the appropriate steps to truly address his problem," Biane said in a statement. "He should not continue this battle while dealing with the many pressures associated with public office."
Staff writers Rick Sforza and Lori Consalvo contributed to this report.
Bill Postmus swiftly rose through San Bernardino County political ranks, gaining the confidence of seasoned politicos who admired the energy, ambition and fearlessness they associated with his youth.
Upstart college students eager to get a foothold in the county political scene flocked to him, attracted by the promise his career held and the pledges he made to bring them within the fold of his elected office.
Until his 7:10 a.m. arrest Thursday at his home on drug charges by district attorney's investigators serving a search warrant, Postmus was seemingly immune to political scandal and initially billed a reformer. It was widely believed that by 40, he might attain a seat in Congress.
But at 37, less than 10 years after launching his first bid for political office, Postmus' political career crashed hard as reports mounted of a methamphetamine addiction and unethical, even criminal, behavior in the elected position he holds as county assessor.
The disgraced county assessor's political allies are abandoning him. In his personal life, there are few who call him a friend. And business relationships he cultivated on the side have disintegrated. On Dec. 16, the Board of Supervisors launched proceedings to remove Postmus from office.
A yearlong grand jury investigation led to a criminal investigation by the district attorney and the arrest June 30 of Adam Aleman, once Postmus' most trusted confidante and top assistant. Aleman is standing trial on six felonies, from destroying evidence to falsifying documents, in what investigators say was an attempt to mislead the grand jury.
"Put two and two together," said Scott Becker, whose friendship with Postmus reaches back to high school. "Bill was behind him. Adam is a sweet, innocent guy, and he should not be taking the rap."
Many of those interviewed for this story requested anonymity, either because of the ongoing investigation by the district attorney or out of fear that their reputations and careers would be destroyed by any appearance of connection with Postmus. They described a man who is untrustworthy and breaks promises, who attempts to buy his friends by showering them with sports tickets and campaign money, who wins their confidence through the allure of investment deals and high-paying jobs.
One of his closest friends said Postmus' meth addiction stems from the years he has spent hiding his sexual orientation, attempting to resist "carnal pleasures" and cloaking his sexual identity as a gay man from not only voters, but his family, friends and political allies.
Postmus' family moved to the San Bernardino Mountains when he was a child. He graduated from Serrano High School in Phelan, where he had a small circle of friends. He then earned an associate's degree from Victor Valley College, followed by a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands.
After college, Postmus began climbing the political ladder, working as a legislative assistant for Assemblyman Keith Olberg, a Republican then based in Victorville.
In 1999, at age 28, Postmus burst onto the county political scene when he announced his campaign for a seat on the Board of Supervisors. At the time, he also held some low-profile, yet influential, positions as vice chairman of the county Republican Central Committee and vice chairman of the Victorville Planning Commission.
Within county government that election season, a corruption scandal involving bribery was festering, and Assemblywoman Kathleen Honeycutt presented Postmus with a golden plunger, declaring he was the man to clean up the county.
During this time, Postmus was often attending political conventions and rallies, flanked by young men. In the coming years, he would develop a reputation for hiring twenty-something worshippers who blithely followed him, sources said. Among them was Aleman, then a teenager.
In 2000, Postmus was sworn in on the Board of Supervisors as the representative of the immense 1st District, which encompasses much of the High Desert.
Those who worked closely with Postmus while he was supervisor say he was a hard worker, dedicated to the job.
But over the seven years he served on the board, his career was riddled with controversies and scandal - the most prominent being the secret negotiations Postmus engaged in that led to the $100 million Colonies settlement, which government watchdogs criticized for being excessive and illegal. Postmus and Supervisor Paul Biane reached the settlement with The Colonies Partners LP, a major Upland developer in a closed-door deal after banishing county attorneys from the room.
It was during his term as board chairman that Postmus lost the tenuous control he held over an addiction to pain medication. On July 14, 2006, he embarked on his first trip to rehab, multiple sources said. The timing of Postmus' absence, however, was unfortunate.
The county's top leader could not be reached as the Sawtooth and Millard fires raged across Yucca Valley, threatening lives and homes. The massive wildfires scorched at least 85,000 acres of land.
Treatment for chemical dependency at the Sundown M Ranch in Washington State may have steered Postmus back on course for a while. His struggle with addiction remained out of the public eye, thanks to loyal county staffers, sources said.
"I was led to believe that Mr. Postmus had received the help he needed, and because I saw no signs of the problem in Mr. Postmus' behavior, I believed the issue had been resolved," Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said in a statement. Mitzelfelt served as Postmus' chief of staff from 2000 to 2006 when Postmus left the board and Mitzelfelt was appointed to replace him. "According to county policy, the issue was appropriately handled as a medical, and therefore confidential matter."
But midway through 2007, Postmus returned to rehab, this time at the Pine Ridge Treatment Center in Victorville, multiple sources said.
During 2007, Postmus' career started to fizzle. He was deposed as the chairman of the county Republican Central Committee, after draining Republican party funds and running up an exorbitant tab on a party-issued credit card. He launched a campaign to run for county assessor, an obscure elected position that political insiders say Postmus sought in order to regroup for a run at a Congressional seat.
It is unclear how Postmus transitioned from abusing prescription pain killers to methamphetamine, but those close to him have said they are terrified of the hold the drug has over him, and they fear it may cost him his life. One source said from 2005 on, the soaring highs and desperate crashes brought on by methamphetamine use began to take over Postmus' life.
As fragile control over drug addiction slipped from his grasp, Postmus' routine work habits became erratic, sources say.
After winning the post of county assessor, Postmus rarely showed up for work, instead issuing orders to Aleman by means of his Blackberry, sources said.
Still, despite being embroiled in political turmoil and suffering the ravages of a meth addiction, Postmus has managed to hold onto some close friends.
Dino Defazio, Postmus' business partner and friend, put in considerable effort to find a Russian mail-order bride for Postmus, hoping that a wife would give Postmus' political career more legitimacy and dispel swirling rumors that he was gay, sources said. But Postmus refused to go along with the plan, and Defazio gave up, sources said. When Defazio was married this summer, Postmus stood in as his best man, sources said.
Just as in his personal life, some of Postmus' business relationships have run aground.
It might seem like a conflict of interest for the county assessor, a man tasked with setting property taxes, to have development interests in the High Desert. But that hasn't stopped Postmus. A source familiar with the properties Postmus owns in the desert said only an expert would be able to uncover all of the land interests he holds.
Another business partner who participated in land deals in the High Desert with Postmus described him as a "high roller" who engages in "wheeling and dealing" to the detriment of his business partners.
The business partner said he worries that more innocent investors might be lured into land deals and taken advantage of by Postmus.
The grand jury report released in June chronicled misuse of power in the assessor's office - how Postmus spent $1.2 million to hire under-qualified executive level staff who had little role in the day-to-day operations of the office, how he ordered the transfer of campaign money on county time and engaged in partisan politics during work. The report questioned a $64,000 contract given to political consultant Mike Richman and gave a hefty severance package to former assistant assessor Jim Erwin.
The hard-hitting grand jury inquiry spun off a criminal investigation by the district attorney that culminated Thursday in Postmus' arrest.
Sources confirmed that mere days before the district attorney raided the assessor's office in April and seized documents and computers, Postmus attempted to set up a meeting with District Attorney Michael J. Ramos.
A source said the situation reminded him of "classic Bill," that when he perceives a looming confrontation, he reaches out to that person. Ramos says a meeting never took place.
But on the day of the raid, Postmus made a rare appearance in the office. It was 7 in the morning, sources said.
Ramos said he had only one conversation with Postmus, urging him to comply with the grand jury investigation.
Ramos was a political ally with whom Postmus had traded campaign contributions over the years. In 2006, he endorsed Postmus in his bid to become assessor.
But Ramos says their relationship was not close.
"I had a political acquaintance with him as he was the chairman of the board that oversaw my budget," Ramos said. "It was all business."
Still, Ramos' relationship with Postmus has led some to question why the district attorney was slow to charge Postmus.
Meanwhile, two key witnesses in Aleman's prosecution confirmed they have yet to be interviewed.
Although the grand jury investigation was far reaching, there was one detail it failed to uncover - that among Postmus' reportedly unethical employment practices in the assessor's office was the hiring of Jonathan Stucker, a man with whom he had an intimate relationship, multiple sources said. Stucker left county employment July 7, said David Wert, county spokesman, who declined to disclose the circumstances surrounding Stucker's departure. Stucker did not return calls seeking comment.
Postmus has long sought to keep his sexual orientation out of the public eye, driving to West Hollywood, Palm Springs and Laguna Beach in order to party and get high where he would not be recognized as an elected official, multiple sources said.
Sources also say Postmus has been completely undone by the arrest of Aleman.
"He seems to have shut down from the things that gave him pleasure - politics, sex and drugs," one source said. "His soul mate has been ripped apart from him."
Postmus adored Aleman because he was young, good looking, astute and politically aggressive, the source said.
Postmus had, in a sense, swooped in to rescue Aleman, catapulting him, in the short span of a few years, from manager of an Outback Steakhouse to assistant assessor, the second highest position in the assessor's office.
"Bill would shower Adam with gifts, trips, money," the source said, adding that the two men had traveled together to such destinations as Seattle, China, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Those trips appear to be over. With his political career in tatters and the loss of his most trusted companion, Postmus now seems to be facing an uncertain future, virtually alone.Postmus decline four requests to be interviewed for this story. He could not be reached for comment Thursday. His sister Holly, Defazio and Stucker also declined to be interviewed.
City Editor George Watson contributed reporting.
Hazardous abandoned mines. Roads that are too narrow or in need of repair. Understaffed and ill-equipped visitors centers.
These are some of the infrastructure projects that the National Parks Association, a nonprofit group devoted to protecting federally run public land, says need to be completed in San Bernardino County's three national parks -- Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve.
"Our parks are economic engines that we clearly want to keep well oiled because they provide real benefits to our communities," said Michael Cipra, the association's California desert program coordinator. "We think repairing the neglected infrastructure of parks nurtures tourism and restores the promise we have made to our children to protect the best places our country has to offer."
The association is calling for the incoming presidential administration to give money to address an $8.5 billion backlog in maintenance projects across the nation.
The nonprofit group claims the projects will create jobs to help communities near the parks that are facing economic challenges because the parks service often hires local workers.
Cipra said there is a long list of projects that could be undertaken in the desert parks. For example, there is a problem with invasive Saharan mustard in Joshua Tree that needs to be addressed, a visitors center in Mojave National Preserve that needs more staffing and another visitors center in Death Valley that does not have adequate heating or cooling, he said.
He added that the parks generate millions of tourism dollars in local communities - $70 million from Death Valley, $47 million from Joshua Tree and $27 million from Mojave National Preserve.
Other projects identified by the association include:
-$11.2 million to rehabilitate Bonnie Claire Road, the main road through Death Valley National Park
-$2.6 million to chip seal Keys View Road, Barker Dam Road and Sheeps Pass Road in Joshua Tree National Park
-$110,000 to perform maintenance on park trails in Joshua Tree
On Tuesday, the federal department of the interior announced the list of national parks that would be receiving $27 million this year for maintenance in preparation of the park service's centennial in 2016.
Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve did not make the list.
These are some of the infrastructure projects that the National Parks Association, a nonprofit group devoted to protecting federally run public land, says need to be completed in San Bernardino County's three national parks -- Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve.
"Our parks are economic engines that we clearly want to keep well oiled because they provide real benefits to our communities," said Michael Cipra, the association's California desert program coordinator. "We think repairing the neglected infrastructure of parks nurtures tourism and restores the promise we have made to our children to protect the best places our country has to offer."
The association is calling for the incoming presidential administration to give money to address an $8.5 billion backlog in maintenance projects across the nation.
The nonprofit group claims the projects will create jobs to help communities near the parks that are facing economic challenges because the parks service often hires local workers.
Cipra said there is a long list of projects that could be undertaken in the desert parks. For example, there is a problem with invasive Saharan mustard in Joshua Tree that needs to be addressed, a visitors center in Mojave National Preserve that needs more staffing and another visitors center in Death Valley that does not have adequate heating or cooling, he said.
He added that the parks generate millions of tourism dollars in local communities - $70 million from Death Valley, $47 million from Joshua Tree and $27 million from Mojave National Preserve.
Other projects identified by the association include:
-$11.2 million to rehabilitate Bonnie Claire Road, the main road through Death Valley National Park
-$2.6 million to chip seal Keys View Road, Barker Dam Road and Sheeps Pass Road in Joshua Tree National Park
-$110,000 to perform maintenance on park trails in Joshua Tree
On Tuesday, the federal department of the interior announced the list of national parks that would be receiving $27 million this year for maintenance in preparation of the park service's centennial in 2016.
Death Valley, Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve did not make the list.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to give $2.5 million to a fledgling corporation with the hope that something can be done to stanch the flood of foreclosures in San Bernardino County.
"Because of the magnitude of the foreclosure crisis there are so many different things that need to be done," said Supervisor Paul Biane.
The Inland Empire Economic Recovery Corp., which was formed in December by the county, would rely on public-private partnerships to assist first-time homebuyers and buy foreclosed houses in the region in bulk, fix them up and resell them. Two supervisors sit on its board of directors.
Concerns had arisen about transparency and the safety of allocating taxpayer money to the corporation. Supervisor Paul Biane, who proposed forming the corporation, has steadfastly defended his plan.
"The idea is that it's going to be local people making local decisions," Biane said.
Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, a member of the corporation's board, said the proposal was a step toward stopping the bleeding.
"We are one entity that has unique abilities to help to solve the problem," Mitzelfelt said.
He spoke in favor of the corporation collaborating with Riverside County and cities in San Bernardino County.
Supervisor Josie Gonzales addressed concerns about the involvement of local developer Jeff Burum. The corporation could partner with an investment group known as CARE - Community Asset Recovery Enterprise - of which Burum is an investor.
Burum benefitted from a $100 million lawsuit settlement with the county concerning the Colonies development in Upland.
"Let me tell you, there are other very good and dedicated and vested private agencies, companies, that are part of this also," Gonzales said, "and you can't deny one person or exclude one person from participating."
Several real estate agents criticized the proposal during the meeting, saying the number of homes purchased with the $2.5 million would be a drop in the bucket and that the county may not be able to recoup the money spent purchasing the foreclosed houses because home prices are continuing to spiral downward.
"Because of the magnitude of the foreclosure crisis there are so many different things that need to be done," said Supervisor Paul Biane.
The Inland Empire Economic Recovery Corp., which was formed in December by the county, would rely on public-private partnerships to assist first-time homebuyers and buy foreclosed houses in the region in bulk, fix them up and resell them. Two supervisors sit on its board of directors.
Concerns had arisen about transparency and the safety of allocating taxpayer money to the corporation. Supervisor Paul Biane, who proposed forming the corporation, has steadfastly defended his plan.
"The idea is that it's going to be local people making local decisions," Biane said.
Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, a member of the corporation's board, said the proposal was a step toward stopping the bleeding.
"We are one entity that has unique abilities to help to solve the problem," Mitzelfelt said.
He spoke in favor of the corporation collaborating with Riverside County and cities in San Bernardino County.
Supervisor Josie Gonzales addressed concerns about the involvement of local developer Jeff Burum. The corporation could partner with an investment group known as CARE - Community Asset Recovery Enterprise - of which Burum is an investor.
Burum benefitted from a $100 million lawsuit settlement with the county concerning the Colonies development in Upland.
"Let me tell you, there are other very good and dedicated and vested private agencies, companies, that are part of this also," Gonzales said, "and you can't deny one person or exclude one person from participating."
Several real estate agents criticized the proposal during the meeting, saying the number of homes purchased with the $2.5 million would be a drop in the bucket and that the county may not be able to recoup the money spent purchasing the foreclosed houses because home prices are continuing to spiral downward.
Retiring Sheriff Gary Penrod has recommended Assistant Sheriff Rod Hoops fill the remaining two years of his term.
This morning, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors heeded Penrod's advice and voted to circumvent the interview process for finding an interim replacement for Penrod.
Because the position of county sheriff is an elected office, Penrod's replacement would be an appointee who would only serve until the 2010 election.
The board plans to vote Jan. 23 on appointing Hoops, a 30-year veteran in charge of operations, to the position. If the vote goes through, Hoops would be sworn in on Feb. 3.
Normally, the board would collect applications from interested candidates and hold a public hearing to interview them. That process will not be conducted, the supervisors decided Tuesday.
Concerns are brewing over the state's oversight of proposed projects and transmission lines in the High Desert.
The Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative, a state agency entrusted with assessing proposed renewable energy projects and determining if they will meet energy policy goals, will be gathering public feedback today at 10 a.m. in Palm Desert, and a number of San Bernardino County residents plan to attend to weigh in.
Several areas in the county have been identified by the agency as hotspots for renewable energy, including Victorville, Twentynine Palms and Lucerne Valley.
The agency is developing a master plan of renewable energy projects in California. Aside from dozens of solar and wind power projects proposed by renewable energy companies in the High Desert, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also wants to build Green Path North, an electrical transmission line that could stretch from Desert Hot Springs to Hesperia.
Various proposed routes for the transmission line show it traversing such locations as Oak Glen, the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains and protected land near Yucca Valley.
Ruth Rieman, spokeswoman for the California Desert Coalition, said the group is concerned that the Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative has not considered a number of issues in developing a master plan:
-the local generation of electricity as opposed to transmitting energy long distances
-reducing energy consumption
-and improving energy efficiency
"We're going to be there," Rieman said. "I think the major point that we want to make is that we believe the process is flawed."
The California Desert Coalition has chartered a bus to bring residents from Yucca Valley and the surrounding area to the meeting.
Supervisor Neil Derry plans to attend to gather information.
"I'm not going to be talking at all," Derry said. "I'm going to be showing up, meeting people and listening. Needless to say, I share the concerns of my constituents."
The meeting will be held in Room 119, Parkview Professional Office Building, 73710 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert.
The Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative, a state agency entrusted with assessing proposed renewable energy projects and determining if they will meet energy policy goals, will be gathering public feedback today at 10 a.m. in Palm Desert, and a number of San Bernardino County residents plan to attend to weigh in.
Several areas in the county have been identified by the agency as hotspots for renewable energy, including Victorville, Twentynine Palms and Lucerne Valley.
The agency is developing a master plan of renewable energy projects in California. Aside from dozens of solar and wind power projects proposed by renewable energy companies in the High Desert, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also wants to build Green Path North, an electrical transmission line that could stretch from Desert Hot Springs to Hesperia.
Various proposed routes for the transmission line show it traversing such locations as Oak Glen, the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains and protected land near Yucca Valley.
Ruth Rieman, spokeswoman for the California Desert Coalition, said the group is concerned that the Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative has not considered a number of issues in developing a master plan:
-the local generation of electricity as opposed to transmitting energy long distances
-reducing energy consumption
-and improving energy efficiency
"We're going to be there," Rieman said. "I think the major point that we want to make is that we believe the process is flawed."
The California Desert Coalition has chartered a bus to bring residents from Yucca Valley and the surrounding area to the meeting.
Supervisor Neil Derry plans to attend to gather information.
"I'm not going to be talking at all," Derry said. "I'm going to be showing up, meeting people and listening. Needless to say, I share the concerns of my constituents."
The meeting will be held in Room 119, Parkview Professional Office Building, 73710 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert.
From the San Bernardino County Museum:
All Aboard! All train fans are invited to visit the San Bernardino County Museum from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18, 2009 for "Train Days." Train Day activities are free with museum admission.
The museum will be filled with large and small model train layouts, real railroad artifacts, and fun activities for the whole family. The Pacific Coast Modular Club, Orange County Modular Railroaders, and Southern California Traction Club will install huge layouts with running trains, beautiful scenery, and miniature buildings. Other models will include a traveling circus, a Christmas scene, a monorail, trolleys, and an American Flyer train.
"Folks will also enjoy seeing historic and recent railroad artifacts, including tools, train lanterns, switch stands, and an operational wig-wag," said Museum Educator Nancy Kirkwood. "We will have train experts to talk to visitors. Kids might even be able to run one of the model trains themselves."
Families can play "The Train Game" and learn about train signals. Children will create their own paper locomotive and train logo to take home.
The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays and holiday Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 (adult), $5 (student or senior), $4 (child aged 5 to 12), and children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. Food will be available from 9am to 5pm. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.
The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services' telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.
County Assessor Bill Postmus addressed the Board of Supervisors today and admitted to allegations of substance abuse. He said he would not be seeing re-election.
The board had called upon Postmus numerous times to come before it and answer questions stemming from allegations of methamphetamine use and using his elected office to conduct partisan politics.
"I must acknowledge that during my tenure as assessor, mistakes have definitely been made," Postmus told the board, "and for those I am sincerely and profoundly sorry, especially for any activities real or perceived that have tarnished the public's estimation of the county assessor's office or the good men and good women who work within our department."
Postmus said he had successfully overcome a substance abuse problem, but he did not stipulate what drugs he had been addicted to. Multiple anonymous sources have said he battled addictions to pain killers and meth.
The board had called upon Postmus numerous times to come before it and answer questions stemming from allegations of methamphetamine use and using his elected office to conduct partisan politics.
"I must acknowledge that during my tenure as assessor, mistakes have definitely been made," Postmus told the board, "and for those I am sincerely and profoundly sorry, especially for any activities real or perceived that have tarnished the public's estimation of the county assessor's office or the good men and good women who work within our department."
Postmus said he had successfully overcome a substance abuse problem, but he did not stipulate what drugs he had been addicted to. Multiple anonymous sources have said he battled addictions to pain killers and meth.
A story in the Wall Street Journal today puts Rep. Joe Baca, a Democrat from Rialto, at the heart of a homebuying network for Latino residents that went bust. It's worth a read.
Click on the excerpt to read the full story.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Tuesday on Chairman Paul Biane's recent proposal intended to help stop home values in San Bernardino County from plummeting farther.
The plan involves the county contracting with the newly formed Inland Empire Recovery Corporation, which would buy foreclosed properties in bulk, rehab them and resell them.
Biane is asking the board for $2.5 million to get the program rolling.
Supervisors Josie Gonzales and Neil Derry have previously expressed concerns about the proposal.
Gonzales said in December that she had questions about "full transparency of procedure" regarding the corporation and fiscal controls to protect the investment of taxpayer money.
The board voted Dec. 16 to hold off on contracting with the corporation and allocating $2.5 million. The issue will return before the board this morning.
On Monday, Derry said some of his concerns remain.
A number of guidelines were supposed to be added to the contract, including a rule that the county would only purchase residential units and indemnifications for the county, he said.
"As far as I know what has been proposed is still the same contract," Derry said. "If the contract doesn't change, I won't support it as it stands. My real issue is I don't have enough information to make a decision. I have a lot of questions still."
Biane has said the corporation could receive both local and foreign investment.
"Everyone has shown interest, but they have said show me the program," Biane said.
More than 42,000 houses in San Bernardino County are bank-owned, scheduled for auction or have received notices of default, according to a county report.
The concern is that the number of foreclosures will lead to blighted neighborhoods and will continue the spiral of declining home values, officials have said.
Biane maintains that his proposal's goal is to resell existing homes, not redevelop them.
He said some homes that are beyond repair could be torn down, but the focus is on helping first-time homebuyers acquire property.
The plan involves the county contracting with the newly formed Inland Empire Recovery Corporation, which would buy foreclosed properties in bulk, rehab them and resell them.
Biane is asking the board for $2.5 million to get the program rolling.
Supervisors Josie Gonzales and Neil Derry have previously expressed concerns about the proposal.
Gonzales said in December that she had questions about "full transparency of procedure" regarding the corporation and fiscal controls to protect the investment of taxpayer money.
The board voted Dec. 16 to hold off on contracting with the corporation and allocating $2.5 million. The issue will return before the board this morning.
On Monday, Derry said some of his concerns remain.
A number of guidelines were supposed to be added to the contract, including a rule that the county would only purchase residential units and indemnifications for the county, he said.
"As far as I know what has been proposed is still the same contract," Derry said. "If the contract doesn't change, I won't support it as it stands. My real issue is I don't have enough information to make a decision. I have a lot of questions still."
Biane has said the corporation could receive both local and foreign investment.
"Everyone has shown interest, but they have said show me the program," Biane said.
More than 42,000 houses in San Bernardino County are bank-owned, scheduled for auction or have received notices of default, according to a county report.
The concern is that the number of foreclosures will lead to blighted neighborhoods and will continue the spiral of declining home values, officials have said.
Biane maintains that his proposal's goal is to resell existing homes, not redevelop them.
He said some homes that are beyond repair could be torn down, but the focus is on helping first-time homebuyers acquire property.
WHAT: San Bernardino County Regional Parks Trout Derby
WHEN: Saturday, January 10, 2009
7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Glen Helen Regional Park
2555 Glen Helen Parkway
San Bernardino, CA
Off I-215 Glen Helen Parkway exit
COST: $7 gate fee. $15 derby entry fee. State fishing license is required and
may be purchased at the park.
WHY: To provide sportsmanlike competition in a safe, family fun environment.
Fishing and use of the parks is promoted. Participants are able to win cash
or prizes valued $40 to $500 for catching the largest fish in the shortest
time.
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.)
Lehrer is Bill Postmus' media communications guy. In fact, he has been much more responsive to requests for comment and department information by The Sun than the assessor himself.
The irony is that Lehrer's job is being eliminated, even though he has been more forthcoming in addressing media inquiries than, let's say, Gary Ovitt's 4th District Office, which infrequently reaches out to the press.
Ovitt, however, has a proposal of his own before the board for Tuesday's meeting. He wants the county to pay his media communications officer, Burt Southard, $60,000 a year to work part time.
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Official's college time draws fire
Author: Lauren McSherry, Staff Writer
Taxpayer Advocate Greg Eyler knows how to spend taxpayer money.
That's according to sources close to a grand jury investigation who say that Eyler, 32, a member of the San Bernardino County assessor's executive staff, was paid not to go to work while he attended college - an education that was partly funded with taxpayer dollars.
Eyler, however, takes issue with the allegation.
"I was never paid for time I was at school," Eyler said. "I tried to take all my classes outside county time. There were times I took off from work to attend classes. I wasn't paid for that time."
"Yes, he was," said one source who had reviewed Eyler's time cards and class schedule, adding that even if Eyler had used vacation and sick time, it was time wrongfully taken from the public he had been hired to serve.
Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Adam Aleman approved spending nearly $1,000 for Eyler to take a course on European history and another on sociology at UC Riverside.
Eyler said the $1,000 was part of his contract.
"I've taken substantial loans out to go to UCR - $1,000 is a drop in the bucket," he said.
The grand jury report released June 30 faulted the county for paying for the college courses because the courses were unrelated to the duties of a taxpayer advocate.
Eyler, whose salary is nearly $65,000, said he recently earned his bachelor's degree in history with a minor in chemistry.
He said he had been considering becoming a history teacher, but more importantly, the degree was required to become a certified tax appraiser. Still, he worked in the post without a degree for more than a year.
Aleman, who was arrested and charged with six felonies, including falsifying documents and destroying evidence, used to approve Eyler's electronic time cards. Aleman resigned Tuesday.
Harlow Cameron, who has stepped in as acting assistant assessor, disagrees with the charge that Eyler used county time to attend school. Cameron said that at one point, Eyler had been given a reduced schedule until he earned his degree.
"He is paid only for the hours that he works," he said. "Presently, he is full time."
Cameron said part of Eyler's job involves meeting with the public outside of the office, accounting for reports that Eyler is rarely seen at work. Cameron said he is informed by Postmus when Eyler is working in the field.
Eyler said the job of taxpayer advocate entails writing speeches for Postmus, contributing to news releases and fielding questions from the public. Some of those tasks appear to overlap with the job held by the assessor's spokesman, Ted Lehrer, who earns a $73,000 salary.
The grand jury criticized the executive staff for spending too much of its time on Postmus' "public image" and projects peripheral to the office's main activities.
The grand jury investigation also found that the executive staff lacked experience and training directly related to property assessment.
Eyler, who was hired in January 2007, said he could not provide a resume showing his qualifications. He previously worked as a field representative for Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane and as the operations director for the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee.
Resumes are not required for unclassified employees, such as Eyler, although the employees are required to fill out a lengthy application, according to David Wert, county spokesman.
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