Seeing through "transparency" speak
Blogger Sharon Gilbert has an interesting take on transparency in government - a phrase our electeds love to use but struggle to practice. That's putting it nicely, I know.
San Bernardino County is notorious for this, thumping its chest over national awards it wins for making its budget process accessible, then doing everything in its power to keep you in the dark on the stuff it really doesn't want you to know.
When we do find out - example: Bill Postmus' dependency problem - they shamelessly try to convince you that it was still the right thing to do.
In San Bernardino, the Morris administration seems to have played the same game with the Operation Phoenix scandal, arguing that the sanctity of the investigation trumps your right to know. It's a pattern of behavior that lends credibility to former Phoenix chief Glenn Baude's assertion that he was placed on administrative leave at least in part for speaking to the press, the city's denials notwithstanding.
And when does "due process" cross over into deceit and fraud? We'll see what answer emerges in the days and weeks ahead.
Comments
Get yourself a “cup” cause you may need it if you read this.
Please let me start by saying San Bernardino is NOT in their current predicament because of actions taken by City Attorney Mr. Jim Penman, nor by City Councilwoman McCammack. This mess the City finds itself in is totally accountable to the Mayor Morris. I will expand on this in just a moment.
However, the SUN and the readers / voters within SB need to understand and make a stance concerning Mr. Jim Morris, the son of our Mayor Pat Morris. Mr. Jim Morris is accountable to no one but his Dad, not the voters, not the City Council, and not to the City Manager. As such, his presence, his voice, and his perceived authority… even he himself should be transparent to all City Departments and personnel. He is where he is at the pleasure of his Dad only, nothing more. He is NOT a City employee and therefore should NOT be treated as one nor enjoy the perks of a City employee. Nuff said, I think you and both Morris’ can get the point. The City’s nepotism policy mandates this.
The City of SB today finds itself in one heck of a mess. This is no secret. This reader feels as a result, it will be resolved after a lot of money exchange hands, not before. We MUST look for cause and corrective actions. We MUST learn from this experience. We must now ask how and why. Operation Phoenix was and remains the brainchild of Mayor Pat Morris. The buck started and stops with him. If there is good, he is the reason. If there is bad, he is accountable. It is very simple. Point fingers to whomever you want, but OP is spelled Mayor Morris. Was he as Mayor authorized to create and then micro-manage a social services program outside the scope of what the City already had within their vast network of programs? Is he qualified to do as he did with OP? OR, was his job as Mayor was/is to, along with the City Council, provide leadership and direction to running this City in a way that the voters and citizens would approve? I feel this sitting Mayor has clouded his responsibilities as a Mayor and in doing so, has failed in the performance of his job and to the voters. When the OP mess is settled, it will be known then just how bad it really is or was.
As the City Attorney, Mr. Penman’s job (in part) is to keep the Mayor and Council advised on all legal matters pertaining to the day-to-day operation of the City. Also he is to provide legal advice to the Mayor and Council when they try to enter into any area that may or could end up in any future court. As Mr. Penman tries to perform his duties, if what he advises the Mayor is not what the Mayor wants to hear, the political card is very publicly played and waved to gain as much attention as possible. This paints a very negative picture of Mr. Penman as being non cooperative and opposed for political reasons only. The truth is never made public, only half the story, or a political spin. Penman must continue to tell the Mayor and Council what they MUST hear, not what they WANT to hear. He is very good at this portion of his job in spite of what is said.
If any member of the City Council does not agree with Mayor Morris on any issue, they too are very publicly labeled as being non cooperative. That is why the Council is so divided today. Hardly a “TEAM”. Hardly working to a common goal for the enhancement of SB and it’s voters/citizens. As a result, we have a City senior staff that is also divided and on the rocks, (meaning in jail, or at home [with full pay] or enjoying a NEW life at the beach). Hardly a team you would look to as rebuilding the City’s image nears. There is still a tremendous amount of finger pointing ongoing that is all very much counter productive.
Inclosing, as you look around ask yourself was Mr. Penman responsible for the OP mess? Was Councilwoman McCammack responsible for the OP mess? Were they accountable for OP or did they question often many times the various directions being taken by Mayor Morris as he funded, aligned and expanded OP at the sacrifice of other like or parallel City sponsored social programs? It is time to stop blaming those who tried and are trying to simply do the job the voters assigned them to do. It is time to look and hold accountable those who have failed at providing the badly needed leadership and direction that would positively lead SB from the abyss instead of deeper into it.
Posted by: Reader Bob | August 15, 2008 6:09 PM