City Attorney to seek input from Calif. Attorney General on alleged conflict of interest
City Attorney James F. Penman said by telephone today that he will refer the question of an alleged conflict of interest involving the mayor to the office of state Attorney General Jerry Brown.
"We're basically taking our office out of it," Penman said.
The alleged conflict, Penman has said, relates to a proposed homeless shelter. Penman first said publicly on July 28 that representatives of Carson-based Human Potential Consultants complained that the Mayor's Office had improperly interfered in HPC's attempt to set up a homeless shelter at a West Orange Show Lane business park.
The mayor's daughter was reportedly interested in establishing a gymnastics business at a nearby location and Penman reported that HPC was worried that the mayor's daughter's actions threatened to derail their efforts to set up a shelter in San Bernardino.
Mayor Pat Morris counter-argued that under California statute, no conflict could exist because his daughter is not a dependent child. Furthermore, Morris replied that his only action was to ask his daughter to consider other locations for her business.
The story got more complicated on Thursday when HPC attorney Lauren Nevitt sent a letter to city officials claiming that although HPC did bring their concerns to Penman's office, the organization never filed a complaint. Thus the alleged conflict of interest became an alleged alleged conflict of interest.
The Mayor's Office then accused Penman of fabricating a complaint to stir up controversy, while Penman responded that since his office has law enforcement duties, a party doesn't have to file a formal complaint for his office to respond to a report of potential wrongdoing.
Penman said during Monday's council meeting and again in a telephone interview Monday that he would seek the Attorney General's advice as to whether the evidence suggests that there might be some violation of the common law doctrine of conflict of interest.
If the Attorney General replies that there could be a conflict, Penman said he will refer the issue to the San Bernardino County District Attorney. If the Attorney General opines that everything is OK, "then that will be it," Penman said.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
More wasted time. Everybody is so caught up in this crap, it is amazing. What is crazy is, I would think no one in this city would want a kids gymnastics center around any parolees half way house. Whether it was the Mayors daughter or not, Penman and the Mayor should be running this company out of the city. I mean wasn't Penman in the paper every week, having sweeps done on the Turrel Houses during his race for the Mayor spot, saying that Morris and his courtroom were allowing these people to set up camp within this city? So which is it, it sounds like neither one of these "ELECTED" (like Gray Davis), officials care about US, just who can say, "I told you so!" Hmmm is there a way for us as "The People" to elect new Officials!!!!!
For city attorney Penman it is another day at the office enforcing the city's codes and looking into potential wrongdoing no matter how high up the wrongdoer. There is no hidden political agenda on the city attorney's part to stir up controversy. FACT--Morris daugther had a business interest in the location selected by HPC to put a homeless/parolee house. FACT---Morris' actions indicate he was interfering in the process in favor of his daugther. FACT---HPC contacted the city attorney about the conflict of interest. Now that everything is in the open Morris and HPC are backpedaling as fast as they can. Shame on them! I for one as a resident of the city am glad we have a city attorney who is forthright and willing to do the right thing. Con ganas Mr. Penman! Keep the faith!
For city attorney Penman it is another day at the office enforcing the city's codes and responding to potential wrongdoing no matter how high up the wrongdoer. There is no hidden agenda on the part of the city attorney to stir up lies or controversy. FACT---Morris' daugther did have a business interest in the location selected by HPC for a homeless/parolee house. FACT---Morris' action indicate he was interfering in the process in favor of his daugther. FACT---HPC did complain to the city attorney about the conflict of interest. Now that everything is out both Morris and HPC are backpedaling as fast as they can. Shame on them! I for one as a resident of the city am glad we have a city attorney who is forthright and willing to do the right thing. Con ganas Mr. Penman! Keep the faith!