SB Now

The vultures are circling the mayor and the chief!

Having watched this past Monday evening Morris (The Mayor) use the last TV minutes on the local channel 3 TV of the Council meeting Oct 1, 2007.. to deny the report by the San Bernardino Sun and its reporter Mr. Robert Rogers.. And, the Mayor claiming crime is down by 12% even though the TRUTH proves differently.. and shows crims is way UP! YES, this City has a very SERIOUS problem..

And, while the Mayor (Pat Morris) professes that there are always problems or has been betweem employees and management.. having to do with the Police Department.. he (the Mayor) failed to say that other than a few top dogs in the higher command of the Police Department that the rest.. of about 300 of the men and women in BLUE have never had any use whatsoever for Pat MORRIS! This starting long before he became MAYOR!

Mr. Brinker... could bring in the Los Angeles Police Chief himself to replace Bildt and it would not make one bit of difference!

This fued (if that may be what it is called) started way back when the Mayor was still a Judge of the Drug Courts.. and the Police Department (Officers) would make arrest of dangerous individuals only to see them appear in front of the Judge (Mayor) and out on the streets almost immediately if not sooner.. time and time and again..

And, when voicing their opinions as to what good it was doing them to make these arrests.. You, can believe the man in the BLACK ROBE had all the AUTHORITY and did not like his power (the Judge Morris) questioned.. AND, NOW>>once AGAIN...
Morris.. has let it be known that NO person in BLUE is to question him (the Mayor) and because they (the POLICE UNION) did not support his canidacy for MAYOR.. are still and will stay on his list... of who will KNOW even when wrong.. HE IS RIGHT!
Just look at the Mayor's saying CRIME IS DOWN..12% When in FACT it is proven it WAY UP and ARRESTS are WAY DOWN!

hmmm? Not meant to be funny but I guess the Mayor is calling
Mr. Rogers and the San Bernardion Sun Newspaper and all the extra VICTIMS of Violent Crimes LIARS!

Don't anyone dare question (as state above) laser eyes Morris...?

The only vultures circling are on the ugly T-shirts which Morris correctly labeled in poor taste. How dare these union members make fun of the City which supports their lush lifestyle of living in Nevada or Arizona and commuting to work here to collect their fat paychecks.
Owens must have issues with authority figures. Morris was one of the most down-to-Earth judges.
Historically, the only way the police union bosses get along with the mayor is if the mayor is in their pocket (like Brinker is). The police union supported Penman for 16 years until Penman finally told them no. Morris represents the people not the union bosses. The most recent FBI crime statistics show crime is down in SB unlike neighboring cities, largely due to Morris' Operation Phoenix and renewed community pride inspired by Morris. We owe Morris a debt of gratitude. We owe the union bosses a one-way ticket back to Nevada.

I agree that Mayor Morris is very down to earth. I have observed first hand what a wonderful manhe is. His one fault (if you can call it a fault) is that he trusts people. He has surrounded himself with some people who are not as honest as they would have him believe they are. (No, I'm not going to name names, because that's just too obvious.) He's trying to clean out a corrupt office, but he needs to start with his own! I surely hope he does decide to run for a second term of office. He has already accomplished so much in such a short time - it would be terrible if he left at the end of one term.

David,
As indicated in the article you comment under states, much money has gone to SBPD recently. The SBPD is receiving support from The City of San Bernardino. People say, “put your money where your mouth is” and The City has done just that. A lack of financial support toward SBPD from Mayor Morris & The City is clearly not the issue here. Plenty of money has been afforded SBPD ~ “more than any other time in history”, according to the article above.
A whole industry exists, and thrives, addressing management issues and skills. The statement of Mayor Morris is more than a profession, it is a fact ~ not just in SBPD but anywhere a hierarchy is in place. The fulcrum is found in management’s ability to lead toward success using proven methods for productivity, be that at making widgets, flipping burgers, retail sales, or, municipal law enforcement, among others.
Someone recently wrote here, “…sewage runs downhill…”. For that reason, when there is persistent discontent among those led as verifiable through decreased production, decreased receipts, decreased sales, or, decreased citations and arrests despite increased support/funding, a change of leadership is typically initiated. This explains why businesses experiencing a lag often display banners proclaiming, “UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT”, to attract those previously dissuaded by prior management’s failures in any given area/s.
The changing of the guard is usually a time of transient lowered productivity. Given the current state of affairs in SB, it is an important and difficult decision to make: Do we impose a period of even more unpleasant circumstances upon the population, in the anticipation of a new chief providing the leadership and productivity not received from the current chief at a level commensurate with the investments being made in the department, or, do we hang on until the agreement is fulfilled, with hopes that the tide will turn in the interim? These and other factors are analyzed carefully prior to a decision being made about this important issue. It’s easy to sit back and armchair quarterback the city council meetings, but not so easy to serve the community.
You make the assertion that replacing the chief will not remedy this situation. What then do you feel will? And, for what reasons?
Please note that “crime is up”, or, “crime is down” statements are both capable of being true. That depends upon the time period under review. Without a time parameter, the statements are flat.
Please note that there are posts elsewhere on SBNow Blog substantiating the proven results of the Drug Court model with independent verification.
Please note, though you suppose it impossible to interact productively with people of divergent mindsets, people, most notably our leaders, do it constantly and consistently ~ including Mayor Morris & Chief Billdt.
Your Friend & Neighbor,
Susana Atanasova

I see where my opinion and alleged facts are being challenged and could not be more satisfied. Thank you to those that have responded And, I do mean that with respect.

I do want to back myself up with following that I see where it is said that the Mayor has done a wonderful job since he has been in office. And I ask this question, where?

And, I would like to point out that shortly after being elected, Mayor, Pat Morris had a simple challenge placed before him where he could have easily proclaimed though he profoundly disagreed with the anti-illegal immigration petition that came before the City Council .. that he could have recommend that it be voted YES on so all parties involved could have taken it straight to the courts and had them handle any and all decision having to do with whether it was or was not right or wrong.

But, instead of doing what was best for all the citizens of this City he, Morris, took it upon himself to influence others on the City Council and go before the major news TV cameras and newspapers and declare and open invitation of dividing this City's residents and the Council against one another and openly let go the GENIE out of the bottle and racial hatred that then and now has spread across, not only our City, but our Nation...

Could the Mayor have really stopped it, the hatred from going on.. and, kept this City's people from being divided unlike they are now?

According to his statement made about this possibility happening.. the court cost would have been to expensive... So, I guess radical racial hatred and a divided population of this City and the our Nation just didn't count in his eyes.

Another for instance: It was not all that long ago that Prop 'Z' passed to bring on more funds to allow the hiring of more Police officers.. at least that was the story being pushed behind the effort to get the citizens to vote for the 'Z' Tax. Then a funny thing happened.

There was a wonderful and great opportunity for some healing to be done between the Mayor and the Police Department.. by the Mayor calling a gathering (meeting) of the Police Force and himself and talking with them about burying the hatchet ..so to speak.. and together setting up a Police Athletic League .. And, building a much needed relationship with the youth of this City. But, NO!
The Mayor, once again, acting on his own, decide he was going to push for funds from the collected 'Z' Taxes and set up the Police Athletic League.. and started another battle within the members of the City Council .. and even went so far as to go outside and pull in children (kids) to come to a City Council Meeting and in and with anger declare and DEMAND they wanted 'Z' funds for their Police Athletic League... ..Up and until the Mayor had pulled them in they didn't know the first thing about the P.A.L or any extra 'Z' funding or if there was to be any...

And, as yet... The Mayor had not had the DECENCY or thought about how important it was to attempt to BOND or try to repair the hurt going on between him and the Police Force.. And, now he couldn't do it if he wanted tooooo! Gawd, I hope and pray I am wrong about that.

Another for instance:
The Mayor is taking great credit for the Phoenix program.. this had to do with and was started because of a little girl being shot to death! A little child has to die a violent death and the Mayor is getting credit for a Program having to do with her death. And, employees of the City are doing what they should have been doing years ago in ridding this City of blight.. and the Mayor is getting the credit for taxes paying for this. He is also getting a salary for doing this as well as a pension paid! That is what he was elected to do.. why that pats on the back for Pat doing his job? Now, if he was doing this for free and avoiding all the publicity and photo ops that would be quite a feat and admirable, wouldn't it.

The Mayor I have met in person and have no qualms about him being a nice man. But, a nice man and a Good Mayor are two different things all together.

Folks, the facts are we have a very badly if not terribly divided City.. and, the Mayor is suppose to be the healer.. not the leader of the pack dividing the City.. And, it is my opinion that Pat Morris in one Council Meeting after another has proven he is diffinetly either the leader of the pack or not capable leading this a divided City.

If someone knows of something the Mayor has done to improve the downtown area.. speak up!

All, I see there are vacated buildings as I see throughout the rest of the City expect for the northern parts and Hospitality Lane.

The day you see the Mayor make an attempt to bond with the City Council and the all the CITIZENS of this City of San Bernardino, Ca and leave his prejudices behind.. Please, and I do mean please, let me know?

Dave,
Thanks for asking about the good the mayor’s doing! I enjoy accentuating the positive and looking toward Mayor Morris there are many positives to be seen.
In the interest of brevity, I will restrain myself to the biggest items I am personally aware of and have personal participation in during just the last couple of weeks:
On September 20th, Mayor Morris helped Jumpstart’s Read for The Record. Excuse the pun, but “FOR THE RECORD”
• Jumpstart broke the record for the greatest shared reading experience ever - over 258,000 (and counting!) children participated at 1,900 events nationwide!
• So far, the three states with the most participants are Texas, California, and Louisiana
• More than 100,000 copies of the official campaign book were donated to children in low-income communities.
Mayor Morris donated 5 books to the city’s libraries for this program. How many have YOU donated? Mayor Morris was at Mill Center, reading to our youth, among countless other activities that day. Where were YOU? I am a tireless supporter of our libraries, first-founding member of our city’s literary salon, (we will soon have our 60th consecutive monthly meeting), have obtained grant funding to enhance the grounds surrounding 3 of our libraries with (28) 15 gallon trees this month, rent library facilities as venues for functions, attend functions at our libraries, introduce many to our fine libraries, participate in our city’s One Book, One City program, attend The Difficult Book Reading Academy and could go on & on! As a long-time California First Five San Bernardino Advisory Board member I registered participation at the official site, where the Mayor’s many contributions to literacy in our community were also displayed. Please see: http://www.readfortherecord.org/site/PageServer?pagename=get_involved_main
On October 2nd, Mayor Morris spoke to the assemblage present at Sturgess Auditorium where almost 1,000 people arrived after obtaining advance seating passes to come hear Ray Bradbury expound on the benefits of following your heart. Were it not for an unfortuitous last-minute change in assigned SUN reporters from SBNow Blog’s Robert Rogers to Gina “Let’s Go!” T., who was observed departing the event less than 10 minutes after commencement, perhaps more depth would have been shared about the importance of this historic, yes historic, event garnering front page coverage but deplorably scant and vacuous text.
Mayor Morris gave a most excellent and revealing introductory talk to the overflow crowd and was heard & seen outside on screens set up to display the closed-circuit feed for those not able to obtain indoor seating. This demonstration of the San Bernardino populace’s willingness to turn out for a literary event in record numbers flies in the face of those who would disdain us as a seething nest of vipers more interested in our next fix or backroom deal than in Literature and Arts. Mayor Morris was right there, and remained within reach of me for the duration of the event, lest you suppose he merely popped in, spoke and popped out. Mayor Morris set the tone for the evening, by all accounts a tremendous success.
Again, where were YOU? What have you done?
These are rhetorical questions. Their intent is to guide your focus inward. My belief is that your life’s time would be better invested in contributing more toward the positive than toward questioning the level of contributions of exemplary individuals, such as Mayor Morris.
In the interest of brevity, I have foregone the numerous other contributions to our community provided by Mayor Morris in this arbitrarily selected timeframe. For example, the facilitation of community events, public appearances and city council meetings. As I prefaced this article, I am only addressing the biggest items I was personally involved in.
Your Friend & Neighbor Supporting Our Mayor, Our Libraries, Literacy & Enhancement of Our Urban Canopy With ACTIONS Speaking Far Louder Than My Words,
Susana Atanasova

While I applaud Mayor Morris for the many charitable acts that he and his family are involved in, why is there an assumption by Ms. Atanasova that Mr. Owens is any less civic minded than our Mayor?

Mr. Owens is obviously interested enough in our community that he keeps informed of the local political situation and offers his opinion on the happenings at City Hall. His opinion is as important as anyone else's.

Ms. Atanasova is obviously fanatical in defending Mayor Morris, but even more over-zealous in listing her accomplishments.

As Sophocles stated in Antigone “For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues”.