Mayor Morris vents at underwhelming turnout
SAN BERNARDINO -- At the May 29 economic summit at the National Orange Show, Mayor Pat Morris ended his comments by telling the crowd he saw the city's entrenched challenges up close earlier that morning.
Below is a shot of Morris, right, with EDA Director Emil Marzullo
Photo by R. Rogers
Morris had attended a local job fair for parolees, which he had advocated for with letters to local employers urging them to attend.
Morris told the $50 per plate crowd that more than 1,000 out-of-work people lined several blocks on Base Line.
But the response from employers was "almost pathetic," Morris said, adding that private business had an obligation to partner with the community.
Instead, Morris had to keep a brave face while talking to the parolees, who vastly outnumbered the jobs available.
"I walked down the line, shook their hands, wished them well, and felt like hell," Morris said.
Morris' comments came at the end of a mostly positive ticking off of projects in the city and a light Q & A session with his Economic Development Director, Emil Marzullo.
San Bernardino is home to nearly 2,000 parolees. Studies have shown that California parolees have among the highest rates of unemployment and recidivism in the nation. Morris made clear that, as a former judge, he believed unemployment to be a dominant determinant in whether someone will reoffend.
Why isn't Mayor Morris more concerned about providing jobs for the graduates of Cal State San Bernardino and the local high schools than stumping on behalf of 2,000 parolees many of which were accepted for pay during Mayor Valles administration. Oh, thats right. The graduates don't figure into the plan as designated by Operation Phoenix.
Under his plan you don't get any points for doing the right thing. Your only worthy of consideration "even if that means lining up for non-existent jobs for hours at a time," if the city can turn the data in to the feds for more crime suppression funds. The writing is on the wall "literally," Mayor Morris is a crook in the Holcomb and Valles mold, only with a new hustle.
Why doesn't Mayor syrup ask his daughter why the ex-convicts can't get jobs? She was a teacher. Why does't Mayor Syrup ask his buddy Phil Savage why the ex-cons can't get a job. Phil's wife has been on the school boad forever. Why doesn't Mayor Syrup ask himself why the ex-cons can't get jobs? He himself was on the school board.
For decades and decdes and decades, San Bernardino has held forums where all the Pollyannas fall over themselves gushing about what a wonderful educational system the community has. yet, as anyone in law enforcement can tell you, most conviocts are unemployable because they are illiterate, barely literate or have no skills. Now that means one of two things:
1. The schools are lousy; or
2. The jails and prisons are full of people who are lazy scumbags who would rather steal than take advantage of the educational system society provide for them
Of course, in Mayor Syrup's world, all you have to do is provide them with midnight basketball and everything will be dandy.
Well, if the "almost pathetic" response from the employers in the area don't clue in this adminstration to the fact that not everyone is a bleeding-heart liberal, I don't know what will.
We don't want them here - it is that simple.
Any available jobs (especially in this economy) should be going to those individuals that completed school and stayed out of trouble.
I am a felon. I am neither stupid nor illiterate. In fact, I have held several high profile jobs in the public and private sector. I have also lost out on several good jobs because of my record. The job I currently hold does require a background check, and I was upfront and honest about my record in my interview. My qualifications and my references spoke for themselves and outweighed my record for my employers. But it took a lot of time to build up those good refences and experience.
I started by getting a two year college degree at SBVC - at absolutely no cost to me because I was a single mother on welfare. Pell Grants and BOGG paid for my education, books and supplies. I worked hard and got good grades. Then I took the first low paying job that came along, but built my resume and moved up the ladder. It took a 11 years, a lot of sleepless nights, hard work and yes, some luck! Not every one can stick it out like I did.
My last employer was a "bleeding heart liberal". He saw my talents, my ambition and my determination and gave me a chance. I am now in a middle management position with a national non-profit. We need more "bleeding heart liberals" to give those of us who are worthy a second chance at a productive career and life!
What about those high school and college graduates who stayed out of trouble and didn't do something that sent them to prison? You do not see a subsidized, publicized job fair for them.......
In my opinion they should be receiving help before you and those like you get a second chance - worthy or not.
It's closed minded individuals like CJ that ruined the community in the first place.