October 2007 Archives

On Tuesday, this reporter attended plaintive funeral services for 22-year-old Deivon McGee, a local man who became the city's 49th homicide when he was gunned down outside a taco stand on Oct. 20.

The service was in many ways similar to others I've attended over the last two years marking the end of the lives of young men and boys killed in senseless street violence. Kids wore shirts with McGee's visage printed on them. Pastors abhorred the scourge of gun violence. Loved ones wept, sometimes while swaying to religious hymns.

Below, loved ones gripped in anguish/photo by Gabriel Acosta

Political figures also turned out, in this case 6th Ward councilman Rikke Van Johnson and 5th Ward candidate Carolyn Tillman, to pay their respects to a slain resident.

One theme Tuesday was choice. Clergy urged those in the audience, many the young men and boys whose lives disproportionately wind up wasted by violence and prison, to take Jesus Christ into their lives and make the right decisions.

But while they did, the material reality was evident just beyond the church walls: The disinvested community, the under-performing schools, the paucity of job opportunities, even the decades-long infrastructural legacy of freeways that steer traffic away.

A sad story, for everyone.

Read the full story, with more pics, by clicking below ...

More on Diane Huston, the human resources employee arrested Oct. 15 for alleged embezzlement from the city:

Multiple sources close to the investigation say the embezzlement charges against Huston stem from her allegedly taking discounted-employee tickets and selling them at a profit.

Heard the rumors for a day or two and they've proved true: A technician in the Human Resources Department named Diane Huston was arrested on the job at City Hall Oct. 15. The charge: Embezzlement.

Details are iffy right now but we know that Huston was arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center for alleged embezzlement from the city.

Huston, 48, wasn't the only person arrested. According to police, 49-year-old Kevin Trunnell was arrested and booked on the same charge, but Trunnell is not a city employee.

Both Huston and Trunnell are Riverside residents, though it's not certain if they live together.

Embezzlement is listed under penal code 503 as: the fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been intrusted (property can also mean money).

Huston's boss, Director Linn Livingston, has declined comment on the matter citing personnel issues. Expect the city to fasten the lid on this one, despite the presumed allegation that Huston was stealing from the city, ie. the taxpayers.

Tipsters are going to have to step up to the plate in order for the public to find out the truth ...

Read below for the story that appears in the Oct. 30 Sun ...

(Note: earlier we printed Oct. 22, but the arrest was indeed Oct. 15)

Here is another little pearl that didn't make Wednesday's paper. Read a brief vignette on Linda Johnson, a local mother whose religious faith and personal compassion drive her to volunteer to help those victimized by the fires.

SAN BERNARDINO - Amidst the hazy chaos of major wildfires, Linda Johnson was a study in grace.

Whether smoothing mustard and mayonnaise on slices of white bread or speaking calm directions to other volunteers, the mother of three was unflappable under pressure.

Here is Johnson, center, helping prepare sandwiches for National Orange Show evacuees/photo by Jeff Malet:

“Helping people in need is just a lifelong thing for me,” said Johnson, hands clad in plastic gloves, while taking a brief respite from helping prep lunch for 2,000 ...

This story, about a remarkable woman and her plight, didn't make the cut in today's paper. But you can read here about Scarlett Heston, a NOS center fire evacuee.

SAN BERNARDINO - She’s read all the media reports and made her rounds of calls.

“There’s fire on all points all around our place,” said Scarlett Heston, a 37-year-old mother of two.

Below is a picture of Heston, center, with her two teenaged children at the NOS center on Wednesday/photo by Jeff Malet:

Heston knows the perils of fire, because she’s felt it before. This is the second time she’s had to flee the flames with her young ones and land at the National Orange Show for assistance. Heston went through the harrowing drill during the Old Fire of 2003, which ended with the relief that her house was spared.

The Red Cross evacuation center at the National Orange Show is a vital resource for thousands of people diplaced by fire. They get shelter, food, and sundry other types of assistance there.

Here is a hazy scene of some kids at the evac center, photo taken by Jeff Malet:

But the center is not perfect, and for a harrowing few hours Wednesday, it looked like there may have been serious problems.

For a day and a half leading up to mid-day Wednesday, the Red Cross organizers of the event were helpful enough in providing access to media to the facilities. They strictly imposed a no camera rule on the inside of the Dumas and Dome buildings, where evacuees were bunking, on grounds that the center had become their de facto "residence."

Understandable. Weary, homeless people should have a respite from cameras in their face.

But they always allowed reporters in to look around, although they also imposed a strict "no comment" policy to all questions, referring queries to an off-site spokesperson.

That abruptly halted Wednesday, with questions swirling about a 36-year-old man collapsing at the center Tuesday night and later dying (cause is still unknown). At the same time, emergency personnel had moments before rushed at least three people away, witnesses said due to respiratory attacks.

At that point, when there were serious questions as to what was going on in the evacuation center from which people had just been rushed by emergency personnel, the place went on media lockdown.

Staff at the door suddently barred entry to this reporter (and others), imposing a total no media policy inside. I argued vehemently that I should be allowed in for the sake of public transparency, to objectively see just what the conditions inside were like for these men, women and children.

I was rebuffed, angrily, by two separate Red Cross officials guarding the entryway.

More than one hour later I was able to track down center manager Micki Hall, who kindly answered some questions and took me on a guided tour of the facility, which had clearly calmed after what witnesses said was growing restiveness triggered by hot temperatures and poor air quality inside.

A Red Cross spokeswoman told me later, by telephone, that denying reporters access to evacuation areas is not typically condoned and suggested a misunderstanding may have occurred on the grounds.

Below is the story in today's Sun.

We at The Sun have provided extensive coverage of the deadly Saturday night drive-by in the Westside that killed 22-year-old Deivon McGee and wounded three children.

The brazen drive-by - surveillance video footage from a nearby liquor store recorded nine rapid-fire gunshots - was just the latest burst of violence in a Westside community riven by gang violence.

At least three children have been killed by gunfire in this area since last year.

But what should be underscored here is more than the ugly numbers. This reporter can say unequivocally - for I have walked all over these streets and written a slew of dispatches from them - that this is a community under siege.

By that we mean that violence, poverty, fear and disillusionment are so pervasive here that all conceptions of normalcy - of freedom from this savage urban confluence - is nearly inescapable.

This is an especially grave circumstance for the youths growing up in this environment. When violence and death is an external fact of life, a destructive cycle of thought and perception is often internalized at a young age.

Better off letting the people speak for themselves. Below is a video clip I shot on Monday with a group of neighborhood kids milling around the sidewalk bloodstains marking where McGee was slain two nights before.

Listen to this child, who can't be more than 13 years old, talk with cool cynicism about life in his world:

San Bernardino police fatally shot two men Tuesday night in two separate incidents. In both cases, the men were pursued by police before both allegedly used their cars to ram police cars, prompting officers to open fire and kill the suspects.

Not sure what to say here, other than this looks like an incredible, and ghastly, coincidence.

It would be prudent to point out two things: 1) these are homicides (ie. person killing person. When unlawful, we call this murder), a fact that brings this year's homicide total to 51, very near the macabre 2005 record for the highest total in a decade. That number is 56, and we have two more months left in the year.

2) This brings the total number of people shot and killed (none unlawfully as of today) by San Bernardino police to at least eight, which is the highest total in at least four years and possibly much longer. Historically, it's a very high number.

Police brass have speculated that the reason for the higher number may be an uptick in violent behavior by people police are seeking to apprehend. This may be true, and there has been research in recent years on the effect that mandatory sentencing (such as the 3 strikes law) has on making criminals more desperate (ie. dangerous) to aviod apprehension.

I should note that in the San Bernardino Police Department's 102-year history, an officer has never been shot and killed on duty, a stat all the more astonishing considering last week's tragic shooting death of a Rialto policeman. Seven San Bernardino officers have died in the line of duty, the last in 1990, most in traffic accidents which occurred while they were trying to apprehend suspects.

Below, I'll reprint an excerpt from a July 1 2007 Sun article on this topic. At that point, six people had been killed in officer involved shootings ...

The city clerk debates between incumbent Rachel Clark and Challenger Joseph Turner had gone about like this: Turner rips Clark for not being vigilant enough in ensuring tax code compliance and requiring business licenses of renters who house parolees and sex predators while Clark sticks to her 17 years of strong service platform.

A forum sponsored by two women's groups Tuesday night was a little different.

Turner came out swinging on a new front, ripping Clark for the campaign mailer written by former Mayor Judith Valles that overtly plays on the notion that Turner is a racist who would target Latinos.

"Now you tell me who's playing the race card," an indignant Turner said.

But Clark had some firepower of her own ...

click below for more and video clips ...

City Attorney Jim Penman and challenger Marianne Milligan squared off in council chambers for the second time Tuesday night, with a much different result.

In the first debate, sponsored by the chamber of commerce earlier this month, a hyper-aggressive Penman riddled the challenger with criticisms, had a raucous crowd thoroughly behind him and landed blow-after-blow to her public image with nary a response.

Milligan clearly changed her strategy in this debate, to her favor. Who won is not for this reporter to decide, but Milligan's scrapping of the "no response" tactic against Penman's ferocious onslaught was clearly a wise move.

Here is a clip below of Milligan going on the offensive:

Click below for more recap, analysis of the issues, photos and clips ...

In this first video clip, you can see Deivon McGee in a black shirt chatting at length with the liquor store owner at the corner of Medical Center Drive and Union Street. Moments after leaving the store, McGee, 22, would be gunned down in a drive-by.

McGee was the city's 49th homicide of the year, already exceeding last year's total.

Here is a streetside memorial to the slain man that was up on Monday. Note the bloodstains surrounding the candles:

Here is the clip:

Click below for a story, some pictures and more clips, including ones that show a 9-year-old who was also shot and one in which you can here nine rapid fire shots.

Paul Sanborn is the opening commenter. He says he accepts no contributions and is in no one's pocket.

He says he wants to talk about parolees because Mr. Penman is in the office tonight.

He says they get $200 and a bus ticket on release. He asks that the audience put themselves in their place.

He says his old idea about the Sante Fe building for parolee housing is no longer his idea. He says the old Holiday Inn building is the building to use.

Here is a picture of the candidates (L-R Mulvihill, Sanborn, McCammack)

This debate showed all three candidates doing relatively well. Johnson, like in the last debate, criticized his predecessor and challenger Anderson as lacking leadership capabilities.

Anderson, clearly offended, went on a long harangue against Johnson.

Here is a clip of Anderson reacting to Johnson's slights, often looking directly at him:

Incumbent Rikke Van Johnson is joined by challengers Betty Dean Anderson and Stewart Cumming.

This is the second debate of the three scheduled.

Below you'll find a recap and another clip, this one of Johnson criticizing the public safety expenditures as stifling other city services.

This debate was attended only by incumbent Chas Kelley and challenger Carolyn Tillman. Rick Avila was helping firefighters battle the Little Mounain blaze with his water-carrying work truck. No word on where Randy Lee was.

The debate was marked by the Kelley's ferocity. Perhaps reacting to Mayor Pat Morris' announced endorsement of Tillman last week, Kelley ripped both Tillman and the Morris, particularly the latter, at one point accusing the mayor of using the 5th Ward as an "ATM machine."

Clearly, Kelley has determined that Morris is unpopular in his ward and thinks that Tillman's alliance with the mayor plays to his advantage.

Tillman stayed above the fray and stayed in line with the mayor by saying the top priority outside the 5th Ward is downtown redevelopment, a Morris priority.

Here is a clip of Kelley. Note the attacks on Morris:

Below are pics, a recap a clip of Tillman.

Tillman says that children need a "safe passage" and adds that the 5th ward needs a community center and a library ...

It's 7 p.m. at the council chambers and Carolyn Tillman and incumbent Chas Kelley are present. The others, presumably, are unable to come due to fire related difficulties. Rick Avila and Randy Lee are not present.

In 2005, a decade-high 58 killings brought an uproar from community members and elected officials, putting crime at the top of any political platform.

In 2006, crime and homicide was down. There were 46 homicides all of last year.

This year, there have been 49 homicides, already passing last year's total with two months to go and putting the city on pace to set a new decade high for killings.

Read below for a story on a Saturday night drive-by that claimed the life of a 22-year-old and put three children in the hospital with wounds.

A press release was issued to the media Monday morning bringing the expected news that a 32-year-old Rialto man will be charged in the death of a Rialto police officer last week.

Here it is:

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
MICHAEL A. RAMOS
District Attorney

Contact person: District Attorney Michael A. Ramos 909-382-3660
Date: October 22, 2007

DA Announces Charges in Rialto Police Officer's Death

San Bernardino, CA - At a press conference today, San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos announced that his office has filed one count of Murder and two special allegations, Use of a Firearm and Murder of a Peace Officer against Kris Antonio Wiggins, 32, in the shooting death of Rialto Police Officer Sergio Carrera Jr. Carrera, a member of Rialto Police Department's SWAT team, was shot during the service of a search warrant on Thursday, October 18, in the City of Rialto.
Ramos said, "Our Peace Officers have serious and dangerous jobs and when met with forceful resistance, which results in the death of a Peace Officer, we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Officer Carrera will be missed by his friends, family and fellow officers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time."
Wiggins will be arraigned Monday, October 22, at 1:30 p.m. in Department F5 in Fontana, CA.

Details are sketchy but this much is clear: A 22-year-old man was killed and three boys wounded - one critically - in a hail of gunfire at Medical Center Drive and Ninth Street last night.

This is in one of the five proposed areas of Operation Phoenix expansion and will probably trigger renewed calls that the anti-crime program should be focused next on the West side.

This is a very troubled neighborhood, not far from where children - incdluding 11-year-old Anthony Ramirez and 14-year-old Jarred Mitchell were gunned down last year.

Below is a story launched on the Sun Web site this morning ...

Below is an entry provided by Karlina Howard, who identifies herself as a tenant of the man who has been arrested in connection with an officer's death last week.

Here it is. She also provided pictures of her apartment, ransacked by police, that show the rooms and possessions in total disarray. We'll try to get the pictures up tomorrow.

Here is her story:

"It brings me such sadness that an officer's life was taken during the raid that took place on the block of Cascade early Thursday morning. I have been so confused due to the fact that I haven't a clue to why my apartment had been raided ...

Reports are now emerging that Jaranard Thomas, 32, is actually known as Chris Wiggins and has a warrant for his arrest for selling crack cocaine in Mississippi.

It looks more certain than ever now that Thomas/Wiggins will be charged in the death of Officer Sergio Carrera Jr., 29.

San Bernardino Sheriffs have already given a hint as to what the rationale will be - that Thomas/Wiggins actions led to the struggle which led to the discharge of the bullet that killed Carrera.

In a jailhouse interview reported by the Press Enterprise, Thomas/Wiggins says he was defending himself from Taser shocks and had no idea how a gunshot killed an officer. He also asks, rhetorically, how he could be alive if he killed an officer in front of a team of other officers.

Below I've compiled two stories and two video interview clips all drawn from the scene of Thursday's tragic death of a Rialto Police officer. One of the stories is an SBNOW exclusive.

One story is on the suspect and the other is on the neighborhood. The neighborhood story and the video clips make clearer than ever that this will be a major controversy moving forward, perhaps even on the order of the infamous Ivory Webb case in which a sheriff shot an unarmed man in the back three times.

Police/resident relations in Rialto are clearly frayed. People on the street where the officer was killed uniformly believe the police will look to - in their minds - wrongly blame Jaranard Thomas in the officer's death.

Here's a clip with three people a few houses down from the killing. It was shot Friday:

Click below for stories and another video clip:

This reporter was out of Berdoo Friday, instead following the tragic - and murky - case of a Rialto police officer who was shot and killed during a drug sweep Thursday.

By now most know that Officer Sergio Carrera Jr., 29, was killed when he was struck by a single bullet. Police have been almost completely mum on details.

Chief Mark Kling issued a very late press conference Thursday night in which he said the incident was not friendly fire.

However, sources have told the Sun that Carrera was killed by a bullet from a fellow officer's rifle.

The question now is how did it discharge? The Press Enterprise, citing sources who "know what happened," (i.e. police) is reporting that a SWAT officer wrestled with Jaranard Thomas and that during the struggle, Thomas grabbed the officer's rifle and it discharged, killing Carrera, who was standing a few feet away.

Obviously, if that version is true, one could expect murder charges against Thomas to stick.

But the Sun has heard from other sources, but declined to publish it today (this is a very sensitive story), that another officer was trying to secure the gun from the officer who was wrestling with Thomas when it discharged, striking Carrera.

If that version is true, murder charges against Thomas are still possible, with the argument being that his actions led to the wrestling match which led to the officer's death.

You can be sure this will be a very controversial story for a long time. Interesting to note: The PE led their strong, strikingly detailed story with: "Jaranard Thomas was ready for a fight when a Rialto SWAT team rushed into his apartment ..." a lede that strums a tone that reverberates throughout with the assumption that Thomas caused this officer's death. They may be right, or they may be wrong.

Thomas may or may not have been "ready for a fight," but he is also 5-foot-5-inches tall and, at 32-years-old, appears to have no criminal record. It looks like Thomas had no weapons. Police have notably declined to say whether drugs were found Thomas' home.

Not exactly the type of guy one would expect to take on a team of heavily-armed SWAT officers. In light of all those details, the "ready for a fight" lede looks all the more questionable.

So, to the delight of some and the dismay of others, we at The Sun have spent two days taking aim at Jim Penman for his confirmed receipt of a gifted membership to Arrowhead Country Club, which may be valued at an amount far exceeding state election law regulations.

Now, the house of cards may be falling.

The Sun has learned that on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 new complaints have been faxed to the Fair Political Practices Commission, naming a number of local and federal elected officials and bureacrats.

The complaintant identifies himself in the paper filed to the FPPC as a "current member of the Arrowhead Country Club in good standing."

The name is redacted. The complaint further states: "Please keep my name and information about me confidential as I am concerned that my businesses and family might be retaliated against ..."

We will reveal two of the names now, and withold the others until having had the opportunity to call them for comment. Who are the free membership beneficiaries at the hi-powered club? Click below.

City Clerk Rachel Clark has stuck to her message, despite the unrelenting pressure of Joseph Turner, who has ripped her career as "17 years of mismanagement."

The closest Clark has come to firing back is touting her office staff as "coureous to all people," a veiled swipe at Turner's past anti-illegal immigration activism.

But now Clark's campaign has bankrolled a barbed letter-writing campaign by former Mayor Judith Valles.

Valles, in a letter sent to thousands of voters last week, rips Turner on Clark's behalf as fueled by "hatred" and set to turn the city clerk's office into "a branch of the INS."

We have obtained the letter. Read an excerpt of this thought-provoking piece below ...

Two days after The Sun broke the news that a complaint has been filed against City Attorney James F. Penman for accepting and using a gifted membership to an exclusive country club, we tried to gauge just how serious the situation is.

The verdict, from fellow politicians and a legal expert, is mixed: The facts of the case have clearly tarnished Penman's reputation as the righteous lawman, while his legal fate could range from not even an investigation to criminal charges.

"Mr. Penman always portrays himself as the watchdog, but this begs the question of who's been watching him," said 3rd Ward Councilman Tobin Brinker on Thursday. "The people who will have to watch him are the voters, and this is the time to decide if they're OK with this."

A stinging criticism, no doubt, particularly to those who know how fond the 20-year city attorney is of hailing himself as the people's watchdog in City Hall.

Click below for the story in today's Sun, additional analysis and a photo:

Ok, it's a break from the bruising politics we all swarm to here at SBNOW, but it's just as fast-paced and rough.

Classic, 1970's-style Roller Derby, with those unforgiving banked oval tracks and snarling skate-warriors, is returning to the National Orange Show Events Center after a 12-year hiatus.

This reporter took a timid walk into the Citrus Arena Thursday night to peek in on a mixed Los Angeles Firebirds practice session and public skate practice. Anybody can come skate on this track seven days a week and get pointers.

The first Roller Derby game since 1995 is slated to roll at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Another game will be played same time, Saturday, Oct. 27, both in the Citrus building at the NOS Center.

We'll have a story about this return of Jimmy Carter-era culture in Saturday's Sun.

For now, Click below for some more info, pics and video clips of the scary fun.

The bank-track, an oval, masonite track that clacks with energy when the skates scream around it. Watch for yourself:

In today's Sun, we report the interesting - and inspiring - tale of five local teachers who are striving for a dream that historically has proved nearly impossible: Acquiring a charter from the city of San Bernardino School District.

What makes it doubly interesting is that they've partnered with Operation Phoenix, Mayor Pat Morris and a local church in an effort to make the dream reality. The SOAR Charter Academy, as the prospective school is called, has a proposal set for review by the school board on Nov. 20. The roughly 40 page document touts the school as a progressive learning environment with emphases on reading, writing, community service learning and character development.

Below is a picture of the bold teachers. Below that is the full story.
Clockwise from bottom left: Renee Nunez, Susie Dryden, Tammi Fort, Trisha Lancaster and Kristin Kraus.

Incument Clark squared off with Joseph Turner for a third time Wednesday, this time in front of the local Kiwanis Club at the San Bernardino Golf Course.

Click below for a few interesting notes and some pictures of Clark, Turner, and two other major San Bernardino political figures who were among the small crowd. Also below, for the first time on SBNOW, we have video clips to enhance our news coverage of this event.

In a story in The Sun on Thursday, we reveal that a complaint has been filed against City Attorney James F. Penman for using a free membership to the prestigious Arrowhead Country Club.

The free membership - members typically pay between $2,000 and $4,000 annually for access to the club - may be a violation of state laws prohibiting elected officials from receiving gifts in excess of $400.

Penman (pictured below during a Sun podcast interview) on Wednesday admitted he was an honorary member - ie. able to frequent the club without charge - until March 2006, when he stopped accepting the complimentary membership. But he says he did nothing wrong because his membership entailed fewer benefits than the standard $2,000-plus pass, a defense that members of the club say is untrue.

A spokesman for the Fair Political Practices Commission, the state agency that enforces limits on gifts made to elected officials, confirmed a complaint was received by the agency in October 2006 ... (click below for more)

SBNOW last night broke the news that Mayor Pat Morris has added 7th Ward challenger Jim Mulvihill to his endorsement list.

Turns out Mulvihill, pictured below, was the last to know ....

We reported last Friday that Mayor Pat Morris was suddenly ubiquitous on telephone lines pitching Milligan for city attorney.

Now, thanks to a tip from you, SBNOW readers, we've nailed down the news that Union President Rich Lawhead is on the phone hyping Joseph Turner, (see pic below taken Sept. 6 during a Sun interview), as the right guy for city clerk ...

Any astute observer could long see the relative ideological alignment between the liberal Mayor Pat Morris and very moderate Republican Jim Mulvihill. Any observer who has watched a council meeting has seen the toxic relationship between Morris and 7th Ward incumbent Wendy McCammack.

So, many wondered why Morris didn't endorse Mulvihill, McCammack's challenger in the Nov. 6 election.

Well, Morris has now publicly endorsed Mulvihill, if belatedly and, perhaps, unintentionally ...

The following was submitted to this reporter via email at 3:52 p.m. in response to calls to discuss Mayor Pat Morris' daughter, Kathleen Willis, being contracted with the city for two years without the knowledge of any councilmembers, the city attorney or city manager.

Mayor Pat Morris writes: "The Inland Empire Gymnastics Academy has very small contractual relationship with the City that predates my election as Mayor. My daughter, Katie Willis, is the owner and operator of this local business. The relationship provides community children the opportunity to sign-up for gymnastics classes at the Academy through the Parks & Recreation Department. The Department has a similar relationship with a number of other recreational contractors. Over the last 2 years, the total amount of money that has come to the Inland Empire Gymnastics Academy from signups through the Department has totaled $5,247, which conservatively represents approximately 1.6% of the Academy’s total gross revenue over this same period ...

In Wednesday's newspaper, a small story will appear in the Sun about Mayor Pat Morris' daughter having a contract with the city to provide youth gymnastics training.

The story states that at the Oct. 15 City Council meeting, 7th Ward Councilwoman Wendy McCammack and then City Attorney James F. Penman publicly questioned the procedure by which Morris' daughter was granted a contract that has paid her $5,248 since September 2005.

We have found no overt impropriety or influence by Morris on the contract received by his 41-year-old daughter, Kathleen Willis ...

By now, most of the astute readers of this blog are attuned to the details: In their debate last week, incumbent City Attorney James F. Penman toted props of old newspaper articles to buttress his claim that challenger Marianne Milligan not only deep-sixed the city attorney's office in Costa Mesa with a "bogus" lawsuit, but that she did so under a different name, eluding his office's ability to unearth the sordid details before hiring her in 2005 ...

A channel 4 News Extra aired around 11 p.m. Sunday. The topic was combating crime in San Bernardino.

It was good to see on-camera interviews with familiar local figures and shots of Operation Phoenix Center kids, including our own guest-blogger Kevineshia Williams, 12. But the roughly 5 minute report took an overwhelmingly-positive look at the city's anti-crime efforts and is worth a brief recap and analysis below ...

The city was stunned to some extent when the POA police union countered every major institution and politician in the city and endorsed Joseph Turner for City Clerk.

Some wondered whether the support would be hollow. No, the police are putting their money where their mouths are - In support of Turner.

Mayor Pat Morris has a recorded phone message to city voters: Vote City Attorney Jim Penman out of office ...

In this blog and the Sun's newsprint coverage, we remained as balanced as we could in describing the Oct. 10 debate between Marianne Milligan and incumbent Jim Penman for the city attorney's race.

We said Penman came out "strong," while we noted in this blog that late in the debate, after a fusillade of attacks by the seasoned warhorse Penman, Milligan appeared "rattled."

But that was it. Not so for other, less constrained media ....

Below is Milligan last month during her 20 minute interview with the Sun. You can listen at www.sbsun.com/vote

In the end, Tuesday night's debates let the viewing public know very little about the candidates (scripted questions and responses) and not much in terms of new revelations (holding fast to long held, and publicized, positions).

7th Ward incumbent Wendy McCammack, in a podcast radio interview that is available at www.sbsun.com/vote

The following was slated to appear in the Sun on Oct. 11 but was cut for space constraints:

In the debate for the 5th Ward council seat, incumbent Chas Kelley faced off with challengers Carolyn Tillman, Rick Avila and Randy Lee. The candidates squared off primarily on public safety and economic development, with Kelley and Tillman drawing the most affirmation from the crowd ...

On the question of at-large elections, Rick Avila slammed incumbent Chas Kelley, saying "we already have an at large councilman" and adding that Kelley allows money to be siphoned away from the 5th ward.

Below sit the candidates at the council dais, from left to right: Kelley, Lee, Avila, Tillman.

Penman says Milligan's statement to the newspaper was that she was demoted for poor performance.

He says that her former - ie. married - name stymied background checks he wanted to conduct. The name was Reger, he says.

By the time the debate was over, a beaming Penman would walk around chambers, gabbing with spectators, giving some up-close views of the prop he wielded during the debate, see below:

On efficiency in office, Milligan says she would bring the office into the 21st century.

Penman says a local judge ruled that Milligan's candidate statement was "false and misleading."

Milligan and Penman, below:

Penman says unequivocally the position should be elected by popular vote.

"I am your voice, your mouthpiece, your watchdog in city hall," he said.

The moderator opens the forum, says the forum is brought by the chamber of commerce.

He introduces the candidates, James F. Penman and Marianne Milligan.

Moderator reads rules, saying candidates have 2 minutes for opening statement and to answer each question, and 15 seconds to explain top priorities ...

Milligan and Penman are seated at the dais together, one seat separating the two. The debate is set to start in 1 minute, a staffer says.

The Sun is at the second Chamber of Commerce debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday. This debate will feature city attorney candidates Jim Penman and Marianne Milligan and 5th Ward city council candidates Chas Kelley, Rick Avila, Carolyn Tillman and Randy Lee.

In the end, Tuesday night's debates let the viewing public know very little about the candidates (scripted questions and responses) and not much in terms of new revelations (holding fast to long held, and publicized, positions).

But it wasn't without value, and some candidates clearly did better than others, so we'll dissect this a bit below ...

Of note, when you are watching any of the number of television rebroadcasts of Tuesday night's candidate forums, is that you are watching something less than a candid airing of ideas.

The Chamber of Commerce gives all candidates the questions well in advance, and most candidates took the opportunity to script their entire body of remarks.

6th Ward Candidate Stewart Cumming read virtually everything he said. So did incumbent Rikke Van Johnson. Betty Dean Anderson seemed to speak mostly off-the-cuff.

In the 7th Ward race, Wendy McCammack and Jim Mulvihill relied heavily on prepared notes in answering the questions. Challenger Paul Sanborn appeared to answer his questions unscripted.

Why is this important? Well, any "debate" or "forum" in which questions were telegraphed to candidates days in advance at say, the presidential level, would be considered a sham. That's exactly what we had here. Very little candor, a whole lot of fluff.

It should be noted that for the 20 minute podcasts available at our election web site, many of these same candidates asked this reporter for his questions in advance for review and preparation. The answer they got: No way, we want honesty, not script.

A RE-POST: One of the most keenly watched stories in recent months was the Sun's revelation that at least one officer was hawking T-shirts in the Police Department parking lot that cartoonishly depicted deadly violence in San Bernardino ...
Sources tell the Sun that sales have only picked up, and that new T-shirt designs as well as hats and long sleeve T's are on the horizon. We also know who the salesman/cop is ...

On the crime question, McCammack slammed Operation Phoenix, saying an anti-crime program needs to be citywide and not focused on a "narrow 20 block area."

McCammack further rebutted Johnson, who earlier had criticized the ratio of the city budget spent on public safety, saying that $60 million or more is needed to do the job ...

Moderator Don Averill gives 15 seconds for 3 top priorities.

6th Ward candidate Betty Dean Anderson said crime and after school programs, to name two.

6th Ward incumbent Rikke Van Johnson said public safety, economic development and "our young people."

McCammack said reducing crime, revitalizing the tax base and bringing in good jobs, not "low-paying jobs," a subtle dig warehousing developments near the San Bernardino International Airport.

Clark says the clerk's office has a "very courteous" staff and helps new businesses start up.

Turner says Clark's inaction on noncollection of sales taxes is indicative of Clark's office not being very business friendly.

Turner criticizes Clark for her examples of getting new software for online business registration. Turner calls it "fancy fancy software."

Turner then gives examples of unlicensed rental properties in the city that are housing sex offenders.

"Imagine if I had the tools at my disposal my opponent has," he said.

Averill asks about absentee landlords.

Clark says absentee landlords are signing up for free absentee landlord rental education programs.

"It helps them learn how to take care of themselves and their property ..." Clark says.

The police department sponsors the program, Clark says.

"I have a very hard working staff ..." she said. "We continue to work with the fire department on a daily basis."

"It isn't a simple thing," she said.

Turner brings up whether he can work with others. He holds up mayor Pat Morris' Operation Phoenix handbook and cites a passage about absentee landlords and closing down unsafe properties.

"I agree with the mayor," Turner said.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist" to find absentee landlords, he said.

"It's inexcusable" that they are not being cracked down on harder, he said.

On tax, Turner said no one can state with certainty that some businesses are or are not paying tax to the city.

Clark says she saw the need to help businesspersons navigate the maze of regulations to start up businesses.

"We've distributed well over 2,000 of these handbooks," Clark said of a book developed by her staff to help small business owners.

Turner addresses a question about what the city clerk's duties are:

Turner: "My opponent speaks of her experience ... it hasn't been good for the city of San Bernardino."

He estimates Clark has lost more than $5 million in city revenue by not registering businesses.

On group homes, Turner says they should be part of an online registration database.

On sales taxes, Turner cites newspaper reports showing that Measure Z sales taxes were not being collected by major retailers as late as September.

"Not once did it occur to (Clark)," Turner said, to talk about that loss of revenue.

In her opening statements, incumbent Rachel Clark introduces herself, calling herself a native daughter of San Bernardino.

Clark says she has 17 years of service as city clerk and that prior to that she worked for the city since the 1960s....

The Sun is at the city clerk debate at 7 p.m. About 50 people are in attendance.

Don Averill, a community college president, is the moderator.

One of the most keenly watched stories in recent months was the Sun's revelation that at least one officer was hawking T-shirts in the Police Department parking lot that cartoonishly depicted deadly violence in San Bernardino ...
Sources tell the Sun that sales have only picked up, and that new T-shirt designs as well as hats and long sleeve T's are on the horizon. We also know who the salesman/cop is ...

The city clerk's race is among the most interesting in the city, with readers riveted at the contrast between the low-key incumbent Rachel Clark and high-wattage challenger Joseph Turner. They face off tonight at 7 p.m. in a City Hall debate, and if their last debate at the Clarion Hotel is any indication, it will be entertaining.
Read below for profile articles of both candidates and a slew of pictures ...

McCammack is the incumbent, and Jim Mulvihill and Paul Sanborn are the challengers. They will square off tonight in a 7 p.m. televised debate at City Hall.
Below, read profile articles on both men ...

In the city council chambers in City Hall at 7 p.m. council candidates for the 6th and 7th Wards and the city clerk's office will participate in a televised debate. Tomorrow, same time and place, will be a second debate, this one between candidates for city attorney and the 5th Ward ...

Got an interesting call from 5th Ward City Council candidate Rick Avila on Monday.
"I got called today by someone from the Development Services Department telling me one of my signs had to be taken down," Avila said.
Avila went on, with the conclusion of his story that he didn't take down the sign because he didn't have to, a determination that was made after he drove to City Hall to give proof that it was within regulations.

"One time, in front of my house, I was outside on the porch and this car was going by, swooping up on this guy, and shot him like nine times in the chest and he died ... I watched him die right in front of me ..."

The following, including the above excerpt, is the guest-blogging debut of Kevineshia Williams, 12, a child growing up in the high crime corridor where Mayor Pat Morris' anti-crime program, Operation Phoenix, was launched last year. Kevineshia typed out her entry Monday afternoon on a computer at the new Operation Phoenix Center at the First Church of the Nazarene at 16th Street and Sierra Way.
Because Internet connections will not be made there until Oct. 19, this reporter took a printed copy back to the Sun and keyed it into the blog ...

We're already hearing the familiar refrain: What's the big deal? It's just an email!

Objectively, NO, it is not just an email, and yes, it matters. There is a reason that we so obsessively guard the rules preventing those in political power from parlaying that power, and those public resources, into additional political and electoral powers.

What we had here was an official at the highest echelons of local government, using on at least one occasion the status, infrastructure and networks of that power in an effort to win elected office in a nearby city ("I want your vote"). This wasn't just a "personal email on public time," which would may have been a problem but not worthy of reporter scrutiny. This was a political email, a power email, the likes of which the architects of our democratic systems in this state have created a web of rules to prevent.

In this context, this is a story that mattered, very much.

By now you know the story: Mayor Pat Morris' top secretary caught red-handed using her office, public time and public-funded technology to drum support for a run at elected office. It wasn't quite the Nixon Administration in 1972, but ANY breach of rules prohibiting politicos from parlaying public-office resources into additional power is very serious ....
And it was stopped. By whom? You guessed it, this reporter WITH the essential aid of a reader of S.B. NOW. This is, indeed, a glimpse of what could be the best of interactive, technology-heavy journalism. Reporters, with the aid of thousands of reader-citizen-journalists, able to keep nearly omnipresent eyes always trained on public and private power brokers. Bravo.

The story will break in the Sun Newspaper tomorrow morning. While this reporter smooths out last-minute fact-checks, suffice to say that it will be revealed that a staffer in Mayor Pat Morris' office has used local government technologies, on public time, to drum support for a future run at an elected office ...
There appears no direct connection to the mayor at this time, but the staffer met with the Mayor Friday afternoon and has been "reprimanded" for the faux pas, according to another top official.

This story is a Sun exclusive. This reporter brought the information and evidence to the administration Friday morning, triggering a sequence of events that included Jim Morris marching into the staffer's office and sifting through a computer inbox for evidence.
Read the Sun tomorrow morning for more. You'll only get it here.

So much for running a campaign free from the stain of his prior partnership with anti-illegal immigration firebrand Joseph Turner .... The coals under 5th Ward Councilman Chas Kelley's feet are getting hot ...

Take a look at this video, shot by Al Cuizon, that compliments the 1,200 word piece on the San Bernardino International Airport in today's paper.

The Sun has tossed around the rumor that 5th Ward Councilman Chas Kelley and 4th Ward Councilman Neil Derry signed Joseph Turner's failed, draconian anti-illegal immigration initiative last year .... Yup, they did.

At the Clarion Hotel on Tuesday, the local Rotary Club held a candidate forum for incumbent City Clerk Rachel Clark and challenger Joseph Turner. The election will be Nov. 6. What happened there was extremely illuminating, particularly with respect to what Turner - dismissed by many in the city as a crackpot anti-illegal immigration activist - said and did.

The long awaited new Operaton Phoenix Center opened on Monday, moving the kids and the equipment from the original Waterman Avenue location to the First Church of the Nazarene.
I also talked to a young lady who you'll be hearing from in the future as a guest blogger ...

On Tuesday it was reported here that some of the local candidates who publicly endorsed incumbent City Clerk Rachel Clark may be harboring private support for challenger Joseph Turner ...

3rd Ward Councilman Tobin Brinker may be the legislator with the least predictable stances on issues - which may be good for the "swing vote" position everyone knew he'd occupy when he won the seat last year.
But he was remarkably clear, and bold, during his opening comments at the Oct. 1 city council meeting.
Brinker said there's trouble in the Police Department ...

At the Clarion Hotel on Tuesday, the local Rotary Club held a candidate forum for incumbent City Clerk Rachel Clark and challenger Joseph Turner. The election will be Nov. 6. What happened there was extremely illuminating, particularly with respect to what Turner - dismissed by many in the city as a crackpot anti-illegal immigration activist - said and did.

The podcasts are up and ready for you to listen. Go to the Sun's election Web site www.sbsun.com/vote and listen to 20 minute interviews conducted by this reporter with every candidate for a competitive city office this November.

Marianne Milligan, candidate for city attorney, made clear Tuesday that she, unlike incumbent Jim Penman, would not get involved in any debate as to whether the city attorney's office should be elected or appointed.

City Clerk candidate - and former anti-illegal immigration firebrand - Joseph Turner issued a midnight press release Tuesday calling on all city office candidates to forego contributions from local law firm Gresham, Savage, Nolan & Tilden ...

The Sun has led from the start on the issue of the city's initially awesome anti-crime efforts somewhat stalling, even backsliding, in 2007 ...

At a San Bernardino Valley Republican Assembly meeting in late August, a curious thing happened ...