Sentinel

The San Bernardino County

News of Note
from Around the
Largest County
in the Lower
48 States

Friday, September 11, 2009 A Fortunado Publication in conjunction with Countywide News Service 10808 Foothill Blvd. Suite 160-446 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

Colonies Scandal Issues Were Explored by County Former

Taxpayers Group Three Years Ago DA Stout
SAN BERNARDI- control issues there, the oversaw the lawsuit are cials - have now become Mulls Run
NO–Moving on to three San Bernardino County now central to that inter- newly relevant. Indeed
Former San Ber-
years after the county district attorney’s office est. the ground that San Ber-
nardino County district
board of supervisors as and the state attorney In this atmosphere, nardino County Taxpay-
attorney Dennis Stout,
it was then composed general’s office have now the efforts of a citizens ers for Fair Resolution
who was ousted from
entered into a controver- interested themselves group that had been ac- covered three and four
that post seven years ago
sial $102 million settle- in the case. Long sim- tive in attempting to pre- years ago is now being
by the incumbent county
ment with the developers mering reports that the vent the county’s taxpay- retraced and re-analyzed
prosecutor, Mike Ra-
of a massive residential settlement was driven by ers from being exploited by investigators seeking
mos, indicated this week
and commercial sub- the provision of bribes to - efforts that had been ig- evidence of malfeasance,
that he is considering a
division in Upland to key county officials as nored by prosecutors and graft and corruption.
political comeback.
Bill Postmus end a dispute over flood well as the judges who other government offi- In the latter See P 4
On Wednesday, Stout
Judges Involved in Multiple Property Reconveyances announced the forma-
tion of an exploratory
obtained by the Senti- able business practices cited by the Sentinel as jump in value and sell campaign committee to
By Janet Phelan
nel point to suspicious by Melodie Z. Scott, a questionable involved the next year, withhold- determine his possible
Several years ago, financial activity by professional fiduciary giving conservatee prop- ing medical care from candidacy for district at-
all of the county’s pro- Welch, who at one point and conservator for the erty to her own family conservatees resulting in torney in 2010.
bate and conservator- in time was the presiding elderly. Scott is Presi- members, overcharges death and allegations of It is anticipated that
ship cases were moved judge of San Bernardino dent of C.A.R.E., Inc., on her clients’ accounts, possible undue influence Ramos will seek reelec-
to Redlands Courthouse County. Welch was fea- located at 25 E. State missing monies from on judges. tion next year, meaning
and most of these cases tured in an article in the Street in Redlands, right clients’ accounts, selling The documents un- that if Stout does run,
were subsequently heard Sentinel on June 12th of around the corner from conservatee property at covered relating to Judge voters will be called
by Judge Welch. this year in a lengthy ex- the courthouse. bargain basement rates Welch reveal that he has upon next June to decide
Recent documents posé regarding question- The activities by Scott only to have the property mortgaged his See P 3 the outcome of the politi-

Needles Hospital on Grand Terrace Closing Out cal grudge match.

“Citizens across San

the Financial Mend Contract with Terra Loma

Bernardino County are
asking me to consider
The hospital has ac-
NEEDLES—Things returning to the job of
are looking up at the crued substantial debt The city of Grand ed and is owned by Gene city government, all of District Attorney,” said
Colorado River Medi- in the last 18 months Terrace is taking steps to Carlstrom, a former which are deemed non- Stout. “They are very
cal Center, according to primarily because it has eliminate its contractual member of the Grand controversial and routine concerned about the high
Barry Delmonico, the failed to make timely arrangement with Terra Terrace city council. matters and are bundled level of political corrup-
hospital’s acting chief billings of patients, in- Loma Real Estate for Cortes has until only together so they can be tion in San Bernardino
executive officer. surance carriers and property management recently consistently approved in a single yes County and its negative
Delmonico’s reports Medicare and Medi-Cal. services. voted, as a member of or no vote of the council. impact on our future.”
to the hospital board In August, for the first The move comes on the city council, to ap- In Grand Terrace as Stout claimed that
on August 25 and Sep- time since the city take- the heels of recent pub- prove the consent calen- elsewhere, the consent “During my eight years
tember 23 provided the over, money received licity about councilwom- dars that are a part of the calendar contains the as District Attorney, we
most optimistic projec- exceeded the cost of op- an Bea Cortes and her council’s agenda at its city’s check register, that made major strides in
tions toward financial eration. professional relationship twice monthly meetings. is, a listing of the checks cleaning up the corrup-
solvency for the facility According to Delmo- with Terra Loma. Cortes The consent calendar, in that have been written to tion scandals that were
since the city took over nico, last month collec- has for years worked as a Grand Terrace as in all the city’s various ven- afflicting county govern-
operations there in April tions amounted to almost sales agent with the com- cities, typically contains dors and contractors. ment during the 1990’s.
2008. a million dollars. pany, which was found- multiple items pertain- See P 7 We successfully pros-
Previously, See P 2 ing to the function of the ecuted over 50 political

SB Council Rejects Speech Restrictions corruption cases. Un-

fortunately corruption
has once again reared its
In the midst of a po- council members that his council colleagues as the city manager to not from the council dais
litical season in which a potentially unfair ad- from engaging in politi- utilize the public forum but from the public po- ugly head in our county,”
four of its members are vantage over challengers cal self promotion during of the council’s meet- dium where the speaker stated Stout.
up for reelection, the accrued to incumbent of- the course of official city ings to promote or op- would be subject to the Stout told the Sentinel
San Bernardino city fice holders, the council business. The council pose political candidates three-minute time limit that he blamed Ramos
council this week at- was collectively unwill- did, however, entertain or ballot measures. Kelly members of the public for “politicizing the dis-
tempted to tackle the ing to impose on itself the concept of another suggested that if in their must abide by. trict attorney’s office.
thorny issue of limiting or its current or future effort toward political statements officials of- Kelley said that in ad- Stout, who was elect-
or prohibiting politick- members restrictions on reform, i.e. making pub- fer an opinion or an as- dition to providing an ed to four straight two
ing from the bully pul- free speech or political lic the council members’ sertion with regard to an elected official with an year terms as Rancho
pit of the council dais. expression. official calendars. ongoing political ques- enhanced forum from Cucamonga mayor be-
While there ap- Ultimately, the coun- Kelley asserted that tion such as a recom- which to promulgate a ginning in 1986 before
peared to be some rec- cil rejected councilman it was improper for the mendation of a candidate partisan viewpoint, al- being elected district at-
ognition on the part of Chas Kelley’s proposal city’s elected officials or or ballot issue, those of- lowing an elected official torney in a head-to-head
to prevent himself and city staff members such ferings should be made to prattle See P 2 match against See P 2
Friday, September 11, 2009 San Bernardino County Sentinel Page 2
The San Bernardino County “There are some under Stout was being about Jerry Eaves. We
good and dedicated ca- favors, travel and hotel used as a political cat’s did talk to him during

Sentinel
reer prosecutors in the accommodations to him paw. Ramos successfully the campaign and that
office,” Stout said. “It from various compa- used the negative public- was used to make us
is not like before where ity Stout received during look bad. But we didn’t
Published in San Bernardino County in nies or individuals with
the tradition of Dr. Henrietta Sweet, most of the people in the county contracts or proj- that episode to win in indict Jerry Eaves dur-
Clifford Moon, and John E. Berry office were there to work ects that were subject to 2002. ing the campaign. We
A Fortunado Publication in conjunction with County- and get four or five years board of supervisors’ ap- Stout this week said could have, but that
wide News Service experience and then proval. the damage he sus- would have been tam-
Mark Gutglueck, Publisher move off into private A sheriff’s department tained eight years ago pering with the elec-
practice. You have some task force working in has now been mitigated toral process. If we had
Call (909) 946-0900 who are dedicated to go- conjunction with the FBI by the final outcome of indicted him, he would
for locations to obtain a copy of ing there whole career in recorded conversations the Eaves’ prosecution have lost. What they
the Sentinel or to provide news tips the office and at least a between Rialto council- and the resolution of the were able to say was
10808 Foothill Blvd., Suite 160-446 few of them would make man Ed Scott, who was sheriff’s department/FBI we were talking to Ed
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 an excellent DA, far su- vying against Eaves in investigation. Scott. But like I said,
SBCSentinel@yahoo.com perior to the incumbent. the 2000 election, and Eaves was eventu- we waited until after
909-904-3896 But none of them have various members of the ally convicted of conflict the election, which Jer-
the savvy and almost district attorney’s office, of interest and report- ry won, to indict him.
Stout from front page unit, which he founded none of them have the including the head of ing violations and was The FBI turned all of
San Bernardino city in 2003, for political desire to run and win. the investigations unit, forced to leave office as that over to the U.S. At-
attorney James Pen- purposes. I’ve been elected and Barry Bruins, assistant a consequence. In terms torney and we were not
man in 1994 and then “The public integrity reelected six times. I’ve district attorney Dan of the contact between prosecuted. That we
facing no opposition in unit exists as way to get been involved in poli- Lough and on at least his office and Scott, one were talking to Scott,
1998, said, “I’ve always political attention and tics and, if I decide that two occasions, Stout. of Eaves’ political rivals, who happened to be
viewed politics as a nec- is not there as a corrup- I will run, that will be a In those conversations, Stout said, “It turned out running against Eaves,
essary evil that exists tion fighting entity,” he huge factor.” Scott, who was work- we were being watched was used to make it
to allow voters to make said. “In the meantime, Ramos sent Stout into ing in conjunction with very closely by the sher- seem like we were en-
a choice. But as far as political corruption is retirement in 2002 in the sheriff’s department iff, who was a friend of gaged in political ac-
the prosecutor’s office is running rampant in our the aftermath of what and FBI, continuously Jerry Eaves, and mem- tivity. We were caught
concerned, I believe that county.” was represented in me- inquired about develop- bers of the FBI, who were flat footed by that right
once you are elected you Stout said he is con- dia accounts and widely ments in the investiga- working as part of a joint before my 2002 cam-
need to set politics aside templating reentering perceived to be a scan- tion of Eaves. Subse- task force with the sher- paign. But we weren’t
and put professional the political fray be- dal involving a politi- quently, Scott lost the iff. The undersheriff, working with Scott
prosecutorial principles cause of his belief that cal angle to the office’s 2000 election to Eaves. Bob Peppler, was angry and at this point there
into effect. While he is Ramos is inadequate to prosecution of former After he gained reelec- because Dan Lough had is enough information
in office Mike Ramos the task of the county’s Fifth District supervisor tion, Eaves was indicted obtained search warrants out there for everyone
has been engaged in fat- lead prosecutor and be- Jerry Eaves. by the district attorney’s for the sheriff’s depart- to know that.”
tening his political war cause he does not think Eaves, who was an office. Later, transcripts ment. So they assigned In comparison to
chest to make sure he the more able prosecu- ally of then-sheriff Gary of the recorded conver- some investigators to get the problems that have
gets reelected. Politics tors in the office who Penrod, had fallen under sations between Scott back at us. They were beset Ramos and the
is foremost in his mind would do a better job the district attorney’s and variously, Bruins, working with Ed Scott, questions about his
and prosecution is sec- than the incumbent office’s scrutiny for his Lough and Stout were who approached us first comportment in office,
ondary.” have the requisite polit- alleged involvement made public. This led with information about Stout said his travails
Stout lambasted Ra- ical acumen to compete in various kickback to accusations that the Jerry Eaves and then he were nothing.
mos for utilizing his successfully against schemes that involved district attorney’s office started asking questions Continued on Page 8
office’s public integrity Ramos. the provision of money,
The turnaround skilled nursing facility at CALPERS, the Califor-
Needles is credited largely to
is staying on top of cur-
the hospital is being con- nia Public Employees
Inroads on the arrear-
from front page rent billings and is going ages to creditors, Medi-
Healthcare Resource after 590 older, neglect- templated. Retirement System be-
vendors had long gone care and MediCal have
Group, a medical bill- ed claims. In July, the hospi- cause of payments and
unpaid. Given the up- been made.
ing specialist Delmonico Delmonico has tal owed approximately penalties that had not
swing in collections, Delmonico said he
brought in to handle the streamlined operations $1 million to various been paid for when the
Delmonico said suppli- is currently negotiating
hospital’s billing in late by cutting one-third of creditors and $700,000 employees at the hospi-
ers are now being paid with the California Pub-
July. the hospital’s staff. He to Medicare because of tal were mandated to be
on a timely basis. lic Employees' Retire-
Healthcare Resources said he was able to make overbilling, $100,000 to enrolled into the CALP- ment System to see if
these economies by judi- Medical because of over- ERS program and that that entity will consider
Inland Empire Make-up Artist ciously making layoffs billing and $266,000 to was never done.
See P 8
Jeneka Romero, Registered that did not impact the
hospital’s essential ser- are up for a vote, as is
Weddings, Proms or vices.
SB Council No one seconded Kel-
the post of mayor. In-
from front page ley’s motion to impose
any Special Event Delmonico said chal- the ban on city officials’
cumbent councilwoman
lenges still lay ahead. Esther Estrada is being
(909) 628-8436 Nevertheless, he said,
on from the council
dais in the midst of a
political speech. He then
made a motion to require
challenged by Virginia
Marquez in the First
(909) 993-3656 the financial picture has
improved to the point
meeting during which that the mayor's and
Ward.
the public’s business is council members' ap-
Se Habla Espanol! that opening a 10-bed In the Second Ward,
being handled represents pointments calendars be
incumbent Dennis Bax-
a wasteful expenditure made available for public

Frank Guzman
of public funds.
The other council
Attorney at Law members said a pro-
posed ordinance such
Former Prosecutor, Western State University of Law Graduate as Kelley was proposing
Handling all manner of criminal defense from DUI to Capital Murder would be subject to dif-
Over 24 years in practice fering interpretations as
Over 200 jury trials to what constituted po-
(951) 274-9798 (p) litical speech and how it
3633 10th Street Riverside, CA 92501 (951) 274-9036 (f) would be enforced.
ter must face challeng-
scrutiny. The full coun-
ers Jason Desjardins and
cil supported the concept
Alex Avila. In the Fourth
pursuant to an arrange-
ment by which redaction
District, Fred Shorett,
the incumbent, is being
of personal information
challenged by Joe Ar-
in the calendars be made.
nett. In the mayoral race,
In November three
incumbent mayor Pat-
positions on the city
rick Morris is opposed
council in the First, Sec-
by city attorney James
ond and Fourth wards
Penman.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Judges
from front page
primary residence, lo-
cated in the 300 block of
La Colina in Redlands
several times in recent
years, encumbering it
with loans which could
not possibly be paid back
on a judge’s salary in the
brief turn-around time
indicated by the recon-
veyances (repayment of
loans). The document
numbers and the size of
the loans follow:
In 1998, Welch and
his wife, Ginny, took
out a loan for $217,200
on their La Colina resi-
dence, which was fully
paid back in March of
2003. The reconveyance
document number at-
tached to this transaction
is 2003-0173087.
In February of 2003,
James and Ginny Welch
took out another loan on
their residence, this time
for $234,000. This was
fully paid back by June
10, 2004, as listed in
document number 2004-
0410928.
Another loan was
taken out by the Welches
on May 17, 2004, as list-
ed in document #2004-
0353533. This loan was
for $358,965.71.
Messages were left
with Welch’s secretary,
inquiring as to where
the money was going
and how he was paying
these loans back. The
possibility that Welch
was taking out loans
and investing the money,
then paying back the
loans with the proceeds
was considered and dis-
carded. For the last seven
years, Welch has report-
ed to the Fair Political
Practices Commission
on his form 700 financial
disclosure statements
that he has no invest-
ments.
A query was also left
with Judge Welch’s sec-
retary as to three proper-
ty transactions recorded
in neighboring Riverside
County, attributed to a
“James Michael Welch,
Trustee.”
Judge Welch has de-
clined to comment. Pre-
siding judge Jim Mc-
Guire issued a terse letter
on August 12th, 2009, in
response to an inquiry
from the Sentinel about
the Welch loans and Riv-
erside County transac-
tions. McGuire stated:
“Please be advised that
I have received and re-
viewed your letter of Au-
gust 11, 2009. Please be
further advised that I am
an administrative presid-
ing judge and, therefore,
my review jurisdiction
is limited. Nothing con-
tained in your letter is
of a nature over which I
would have review juris-
diction. Any request for
review or investigation
by me is, therefore, de-
nied.”
There has been no
confirmation or denial
from the court as to
whether Welch’s exodus
from his probate assign-
ment in Redlands had
any bearing on the recent
media scrutiny given his
actions as a judge or his
apparent bias towards
cases involving Melo-
die Scott, who recently
launched a legal protest
concerning the denial of
her fiduciary license by
the California Profes-
sional Fiduciary Bureau.
This practice of judg-
es taking out large loans
appears to be widespread
and crosses county
boundaries. Information
gathered on Commis-
sioner John McCoy and
Judge Sharon Waters
(both of Riverside Coun-
ty) has recently been
turned over to a River-
side County district at-
torney investigator, Jeff
Chebahtah. While Che-
bahtah has acknowl-
edged receipt of the in-
formation on the Waters
and McCoy loans, he has
at press time refused
to assign a complaint/
case file number. The
practice of accepting
evidence and refusing to
assign a tracking num-
ber has been previously
explored by this reporter
in an article entitled:
“How the California
Justice System covers
up crimes against the
elderly: A method to the
Rancho Computers, Inc.
8188 Rochester Ave, Suite B
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
info@ranchocomp.com
San Bernardino County Sentinel Page 3
madness” and appears to
be deployed when either The San Bernardino County Sentinel
the matter is too trivial
for the district attorney
to take seriously or when has now been in existence for
there is a political agen- nine months.
da to keep the report out
of the system and thus
not to investigate at all.
Parenthetically, both Covering issues of public concern throughout
McCoy and Waters were the largest county in the lower 48 states
recently and consecu-
tively removed from an
active case in Riverside This week circulation of the paper will reach 10,000
Superior Court, follow-
ing a protest lodged that
the loans smacked of The Sentinel is distributed at various locations in San Bernardino, Red-
pay-offs or bribes. lands, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton, Lake Arrowhead, Baker, Vic-
In San Bernardino torville, Lucerne Valley, Hesperia, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland
County, Judge Steve and Ontario
Mapes ascended to the
bench in 2007 and cur-
rently sits on Barstow Subscriptions of the hard copy version of
court, following his the Sentinel
tenure as an deputy dis- are available at a rate of $4 per month,
trict attorney in San $18 per six months,
Bernardino. Mapes has $30 per year
also been involved in
the loan program, appar-
ently going back to 1998, For prompt delivery
when he took out a loan Send a check payable to
on his home on Patricia The San Bernardino County Sentinel
Drive for over $155, 000. to 10808 Foothill Blvd. 160-446
He subsequently took Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
out further loans on his Include your mailing address
property, including loans
for $100,000 in 2001 and
2002, another loan for
$307,500, also in 2001, For the time being
one for $88,500 in 2002 A free PDF version of the Sentinel is available via e-mail
and a loan in 2004 which E-mail your request to SBCSentinel@yahoo.com
was in excess of the val- Include your name and city of residence
ue of the house, recorded
at the tax assessor’s of-
fice as $427,528. This
loan was taken out for a
resounding $493,000.
More recently, in
2006, he again borrowed
money against his prop-
erty. Since 2001, Judge Coast-to-Coast Metal Finishing Corporation
Steven Mapes has re- Specializing in metal finishing, powder coating and custom designed
ceived seven different
reconveyances on his
lighting fixtures for both indoor and outdoor use.
loans.
Proprietor Gil Bernal has 25 years experience in all phases of metal
Mapes did not re-
finishing and decorating and personally manages his own foundry.
spond to a call from the
Sentinel, inquiring on All Products made entirely in the USA
how he was paying back
these loans.
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Friday, September 11, 2009
Colonies
from front page
half of 2009, a burgeon-
ing number of county
residents has come to
understand the manner
in which the two prin-
cipals in the Colonies
Crossroads Partners ex-
ploited the political sys-
tem, and the corruptibil-
ity of three of the board’s
members to wring $102
million out of the county.
In 2006, only a relative
handful of county citi-
zens had an appreciation
of the subterfuge that
was being run. Among
those were the mem-
bers of San Bernardino
County Taxpayers for
Fair Resolution.
The manner in which
the Colonies Crossroads
Partners cozened the
county into covering
the cost of constructing
its infrastructure at the
massive subdivision is
a textbook example of
strategic planning, ma-
nipulation of the regional
planning process and po-
litical intrigue.
In the late 1980s, Ir-
vine-based Penhill Land
Company broached the
concept of converting
the property lying in the
northeastern portion of
Upland into a massive
subdivision. The prop-
erty both straddled and
lay upon the swath of
right of way for the then-
yet-to-be-constr ucted
210 Freeway extension.
On paper it seemed to be
an ideal spot for a com-
bination of residential
Founders Scholarships
Available to Early Oak Valley College Applicants
and commercial devel-
opment.
But the property lying
along the foothills be-
low the towering 8,693
foot Ontario Peak was
fraught with problematic
geologic complications.
Owned by the San An-
tonio Land and Water
Company, it was criss-
crossed with flood con-
trol easements that were
the natural consequence
of its character as an al-
luvial fan consisting of
rocky scrubland across
which rainwater from
the Angeles National
Forest flowed during the
rainy season. The city
of Upland was a major
shareholder in the San
Antonio Land and Water
Company.
In their initial discus-
sions with the city of
Upland over the require-
ments for development,
Penhill was informed
that to gain an entitle-
ment to build it would
need to invest in millions
of dollars in flood con-
trol improvements. Quite
simply, the consideration
that the property was
situated below a typical
year’s flood plain ren-
dered the property un-
developable. The upfront
cost of providing infra-
structure to mitigate the
flood problems would
fall to the developer and
would not be defrayed
by the city or its taxpay-
ers, Penhill was told. As
a consequence, Penhill
abandoned the project,
known as The Lakes
at San Antonio. Sub-
San Bernardino County Sentinel
sequently, the William the Foothill Fire Dis-
Lyon Company again ex- trict, which until it was
plored the possibility of absorbed by the city of
developing the property. Rancho Cucamonga in
But again, the expense 1989 served as the fire
of alleviating the flood department in Rancho
hazard over the property Cucamonga. In his ca-
rendered the project at pacity as an elected of-
best marginally profit- ficial, Richards grew to
able. As development understand the level of
stalled, Lyon eventu- apathy the citizenry has
ally lost the property in with regard to local gov-
a foreclosure. ernment as well as the
Thus, the earliest ef- limits of accountabil-
forts to develop the ity for public officials.
property were thwarted, These lessons were ones
in the first instance by Richards would apply in
technical problems and, devising the formula for
ultimately in the case of the Colonies Crossroads
the proposal by William project.
Lyon, by financial prob- In 1997, after his
lems. partnership with Wheat-
The experience of ley dissolved, Richards
the Penhill and William formed a partnership
Lyon Company did not with Jeff Burum that
go unremarked by Dan was locally reported to
Richards. include 27 others - Colo-
Richards had long nies Crossroads Partners.
been a major player in Richards and Burum
San Bernardino County were the managing and
and western San Ber- controlling partners. The
nardino County in rest were investors. The
particular. With Steve goal of the company was
Wheatley, Richards was to pick up where the ef-
the co-owner of Stephen fort to develop the Lakes
Daniels Commercial at San Antonio project
Brokerage, which served had left off. In this case
the entirety of the Inland the project would entail
Valley, with a particu- three distinct elements
larly strong presence in - one for residential de-
Rancho Cucamonga, velopment to be known
Upland, Fontana and as the Colonies at San
Ontario. Richards and Antonio that was to en-
his company’s reach tail the building of 1,150
extended all the way to homes, a commercial
the county seat in San component to be known
Bernardino, and Steven as Crossroads Cross-
Daniels was involved ing that would involve
in real estate in Rialto, 1.1-million-square-feet
Colton, and Montclair as of retail space and the
well. infrastructure, i.e., the
Along with Wheatley, flood control facilities,
Richards in the 1980s to transform the entire
was a board member of property into a develop-
able state.
For just under $17 mil-
lion, the Colonies Cross-
roads Partners purchased
448 acres of property
from the San Antonio
Land and Water Com-
pany. The property, upon
which the county of San
Bernardino had recorded
three flood control ease-
ments in the 1930s, was
shown on the city of
Upland’s planning maps
as open space and flood
control land. Among its
most remarkable fea-
tures were a gravel quar-
ry, and a makeshift and
illegal dumping ground
that contained discarded
furniture and build-
ing materials, asphalt,
barrels of oil and other
hazardous substances,
concrete, trash, the scat-
tered chassis and bodies
of wrecked vehicles, and
tires.
Accompanying the
Colonies Crossroad Part-
ners’ well thought out
development program
was the first phase of its
political program, con-
sisting of massive scale
political contributions to
a select group of candi-
dates for the Upland city
council. By ingratiat-
ing themselves with the
city council, Richards
and Burum succeeded
in neutralizing the hard
line that had previously
been taken by the Up-
land planning staff with
regard to ensuring that
adequate infrastructure
- paid for by the develop-
er - was in place before
the actual development
was allowed to proceed.
Indeed, at that point, at-
Page 4
rary city staff members
to accommodate them
whenever a significant
issue regarding the con-
flicting interests of the
city and the completion
of the project arose.
Burum and Richards
made significant political
contributions to coun-
cil members in the city
of Rancho Cucamonga,
which lies just a stone’s
throw from the property
Richards and Burum
were seeking to develop.
This offset the raising of
any protest over potential
environmental problems
the project represented.
Simultaneously, Bu-
rum and Richards and
their agents touted the
development project as
one that would be a boon
for the cash-strapped
bedroom community of
Upland, which lacked
the sales tax-revenue
producing major com-
mercial centers that
neighboring Rancho
Cucamonga, Ontario
and Montclair had cul-
tivated. The Crossroads
Crossing portion of
their project, Burum and
Richards promised, with
its easy access from the
210 Freeway and travel-
ers from outside the city,
would reap for the city an
increase in sales tax in-
come of no less than $3.5
million per year. And
the upscale homes to be
built in the Colonies at
San Antonio would rep-
resent a major increase
in property values and a
commensurate property
tax boon.
Nevertheless, the out-
standing feature of the

Turf Turner
rophy within the city of property - its location
Upland’s planning and in the middle of a flood
Oak Valley College, a residential campus, engineering divisions zone - complicated the
nestled into the San Bernardino Mountain Wilder- had resulted in the city project from the outset.
ness, offers a curriculum based in the liberal arts,
-Disking -Roto-tilling having inadequate staff The property for de-
with courses in the sciences, humanities, business, -Field Disking -Weed Mowing to process the building cades had been utilized
management, and entrepreneurship. -Lawns -Gardens and planning documents to mitigate the flow of
The college offers two majors, Business the project required. rainwater down and
-Fields -Hillsides
With the blessing of a away from the foothills
and Public Affairs. Business majors may work -Vineyards -Citrus Groves city council whose im- in the winter and spring
in private firms. Public Affairs majors may work in partiality had been com- and occasional flooding
non-profit organizations, media relations, ministry,
government or social services. (909) 989-7707 promised by the infusion
of Colonies Crossroads
caused by the melting of
snowpack in late spring
Classes are small and taught by Christian money into its mem- and early summer. The
professionals at the institution of higher learn- bers’ campaign funds, ground, with its sand
ing, located 30 minutes east of Highland, CA. senior city management and gravel quarries, was
hired contract engineers an ideal one to catch the
Merit and need-based scholarships are and planners to handle overflow of water and its
available. Founders Scholarships of $5,000+ the Colonies project and bare natural, unpaved
will be given to those who apply early. paid them with money state allowed water to
Contact Kimberly Toole, admissions officer at
(909) 965-2247 or ktoole@oakvalleycollege.org.
Jewelry provided by the devel- percolate down into the
opers specifically for water table rather than
that purpose. Thus, the continue to flow onto
Free online application to Oak Valley College can Serving the Inland Empire
developers were able to neighboring properties.
be submitted at www.oakvalleycollege.org. Alma Jimenez (909) 919-4370 pressure these tempo- Continued on Page 5
Friday, September 11, 2009
Colonies
from Page 4
A series of deluges in
the 1930s prompted the
county, with the acquies-
cence of the San Antonio
Water Company, to re-
cord flood control ease-
ments on the property
in 1933, 1934 and 1939.
The city of Upland and
the county consequently
had listed on its zoning
and land use maps a reg-
istration of the property
as open space and flood
control land upon which
development was to be
prohibited. The only
construction authorized
on the property was for
drainage facilities to be
built and maintained by
the county flood control
district.
In the same time
frame, the city of Up-
land had contracted with
the county flood control
district for the designing
and construction of the
20th Street Storm Drain,
a pipe that brought flood
waters originating in
the northwest portion of
the city eastward. In an
agreement signed on De-
cember 7, 1999, the Colo-
nies Crossroads Partners
agreed to the placement
of that storm drain on its
property in exchange for
the county’s agreement
to suspend its flood-con-
trol rights on that portion
of the Colonies Cross-
roads Partners’ property
where the first phase of
305 homes was to take
place.
The county agreed to
suspend its easements
on the property intended
for the project’s second
stage at such time as
the developer presented
and had ratified a flood-
protection plan accept-
able to the county flood
control district and the
city of Upland and all
three parties “entered
into mutually acceptable
agreements” concerning
“the disposition of flood
waters.”
No such mutually ac-
ceptable agreements
were ever reached, how-
ever. By 2001, with the
California Department
of Transportation mov-
ing toward the comple-
tion of the long awaited
210 Freeway extension,
the Colonies Crossroads
Partners entered into an
agreement with the state
San Bernardino County Sentinel
of California by which way extension - and the
the develop company city of Upland, which
was paid $17 million for was seeking to facilitate
40 acres that were to be the Colonies project.
ultimately utilized in the The Colonies Cross-
construction of the free- roads Partners insisted,
way. Simultaneously, a still the same, that the
dispute erupted between county flood control di-
the Colonies Crossroads vision was required to
Partners and the county build, at county taxpayer
over which entity was re- expense, the flood con-
sponsible for paying for trol system.
flood-control improve- In 2002, the Colonies
ments pertaining to both Crossroads Partners sued
the project and the Inter- the county, alleging the
state 210 extension. county had failed to live
The developers de- up to its responsibility to
manded $25 million to construct the flood basin
adapt the existing gravel and further alleging that
pit into a flood basin. the county’s placement
The county, which never of the terminus of the
conceded that the flood 20th Street Storm Drain
control district was re- on its property resulted
sponsible for construct- in irreparable damage to
ing the flood control their subdivision.
facilities, nevertheless That same year Rich-
claimed that a basin ards and Burum em-
could be constructed for barked on the second
around $3 million. phase of their politi-
By transforming the cal program, throwing
gravel quarry into a 67- $70,000 into Rancho
acre flood-control basin Cucamonga city coun-
surrounded by land- cilman Paul Biane’s
scaping, benches and electoral challenge of
bridges over a meander- then-incumbent Sec-
ing stream that fed into ond District supervisor
the basin, the Colonies Jon Mikels. Upland lies
Crossroads Partners sig- within the county’s Sec-
nificantly enhanced the ond District and Mikels,
aesthetic appeal of the who was intimately fa-
overall project. County miliar with the project
officials, who disputed and its attendant issues,
that taxpayers were in was adamantly opposed
any way required to to the county being held
provide critical infra- financially responsible
structure for the project, for any part of a private
absolutely rejected that entity’s capital venture.
the county should have Biane’s effort was
to foot the bill for en- successful and Mikels
hancements to basic in- was ousted.
frastructure that greatly The lawsuit the Colo-
exceeded the purpose of nies Crossroads Partners
such facilities. Indeed, had initiated against the
county officials asserted, county was heard by San
the flood control divi- Bernardino County Su-
sion’s efforts with re- perior Court Judge Peter
gard to the storm drain Norell. On August 28,
were made to accom-
modate Caltrans and the
2003, Norell ruled that
San Bernardino County
county’s transportation had no right to any of
agency, SANBAG, both the flood control prop-
of which were intent on erty contained within
completing the 210 Free- the Colonies at San An-
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Page 5
tonio project site. Norell Little progress toward ty has limited property
further ruled that the that end was made, but rights within the Colo-
easements recorded in on March 25, 2005, Bi- nies project to carry out
1933 and 1934 that al- ane and Postmus asked its flood control function
lowed about 31 acres to the lawyers representing should its flood control
be used for flood control the county and the Colo- authority be brought to
and the 1939 easement nies Partners to leave the bear and that the county
that allowed even more room while they attempt- had never abandoned its
acreage to be utilized for ed to negotiate with Bu- original rights for flood
flood control purposes rum and Richards, under control on the Colonies
with the owner’s consent the supervision of former development, as Norell
were no longer in effect. state senator Jim Brulte, had found. “We hold
The county appealed a Colonies consultant, that substantial evidence
that ruling. an agreement to settle shows the relevant ease-
While that issue was the case. In this forum ments still exist for
yet in doubt, Richards they came to a tentative flood control purposes,”
and Burum undertook deal whereby the county the three judges on the
the third phase of their would give the Colonies 4th Appellate District’s
political program, pro- Partners $77 million panel collectively wrote,
viding then-Ontario to end the suit. Before while noting that with
Mayor Gary Ovitt with that pact was finalized, the Colonies at San An-
$50,000 in his 2004 however, a firestorm of tonio project under way
electoral effort against adverse publicity broke there would be even
Chino Mayor Eunice out. Kristovich and Wat- greater need for manag-
Ulloa in that year’s spe- ford, as the attorneys ing water run-off. They
cial election for Fourth representing the county then sent the matter back
District supervisor. They in the Colonies Cross- to Norell’s court. “The
also made hefty contri- roads Partners suit, were trial court must decide
butions to the political so outraged at Biane and the scope of the flood
war chest of the newly Postmus’ action that control easements,” the
selected chairman of the they resigned. But before panel said. In response
board of supervisors, making their exodus, to the county’s request
Bill Postmus. they authored a memo for Norell to discontinue
While the Fourth dated April 4, 2005, call- as the trial judge on the
Appellate District was ing the $77 million ex- case, Norell disqualified
yet considering Norell’s cessively generous and himself from hearing ev-
ruling that had erased tantamount to a gift of idence on the matter but
the county flood control public funds that if rati- left himself the standing
easements on the Colo- fied would endanger any to oversee a status con-
nies property, a sub- efforts to involve the city ference, according to the
committee of the county of Upland, SANBAG court record.
board of supervisors, and Caltrans in defray- Judge Christopher
consisting of then board ing the cost of the settle- Warner was appointed to
chairman Bill Postmus, ment with the Colonies replace Norell as the trial
who was then chairman Crossroads Partners. judge.
of the county Repub- A little less than four In 2006, Burum and
lican Central commit- months later, on July 29, Richards initiated the
tee, and Biane, who was 2005 the 4th Appellate fourth major phase of
then vice chairman of District court overturned their political program.
the board of supervisors Norell’s ruling that San Having already ingra-
and vice chairman of Bernardino County had tiated themselves with
the county Republican abandoned its flood con- Postmus by providing
Central Committee, un- trol rights on the prop- him with $40,000 dur-
dertook, in the company erty now owned by the ing his 2004 reelection
of the county’s lawyers, Colonies. The appellate run, they provided over
Stephen Kristovich and court ruled that the coun- Continued on Page 6
Paul Watford, a negoti-
ating session with Bu-
rum and Richards and
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the Colonies Crossroads -Tree Trimming -Tree Topping
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Friday, September 11, 2009
Colonies
from Page 4 has been much scrutiny
of the events that led up
$400,000 in political to the settlement and the
donations to him for his
behind-the-scenes po-
2006 campaign for coun- litical skullduggery that
ty assessor, provided to
was part and parcel to
him both directly as well it. Postmus, whose po-
as filtered through polit-
litical ambition led him
ical action committees. into forging a political
The lawsuit went to
alliance with Richards
trial before Judge Chris- and Burum while he
topher Warner that same
was chairman of both
year. Both the Colonies the board of supervisors
Crossroads Partners and
and the Republican Cen-
the county agreed to tral Committee when the
forego a jury trial and
deal to settle the Colo-
instead allow Warner to nies lawsuit was being
hear the evidence and
worked out, later over-
render a verdict. stepped his authority as
Warner stunned the
the county’s chief taxing
county when he inexpli- official as county asses-
cably repeated Norell’s
sor. A scandal entailing
overturned ruling that his use of the assessor’s
the easements had been
office to hire political
abandoned and entered cronies, make favorable
a finding against the
property tax adjustments
county on the merits of for political donors and
the case.
in general utilize the
For four months in the assessor’s office for po-
summer and fall of 2006,
litical purposes overtook
Warner made no ruling him earlier this year. He
as to how much money
resigned from that post
the county owed the in February amid revela-
Colonies Partners. The
tions about the manner
county, this time repre- in which he hired and
sented by the law firm
taxed to reward his polit-
Jones Day, was on the ical allies. He has since
verge of appealing War-
been charged by the
ner’s ruling, based on his district attorney’s office
defiance of the appellate
with the misuse of public
court and other issues at funds while serving as
trial.
assessor. It has been re-
Before that appeal vealed as well that judge
was lodged, however,
Norell’s ex-wife obtained
in November, less than a home in the Colonies at
a month after Postmus
San Antonio for close to
had been elected asses- $200,000 less than the
sor but while he still re-
then-going rate during
mained on the board of the time frame in which
supervisors before be-
judge Norell entered the
ing sworn into his new decision, later reversed
post, Postmus, Biane and
by the appellate court,
Ovitt voted to approve a that the county’s ease-
$102 million settlement
ments on the Colonies
with the Colonies Part- property were no longer
ners. That settlement
in effect. It has also been
provoked the Jones Day revealed that Norell, in
law firm, like Watford
his capacity as the coun-
and Kristovich before it, ty’s presiding judge, pre-
to resign.
vailed upon the county
Since that time there grand jury in 2005 to
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San Bernardino County Sentinel Page 6
shut down its investi- 2002, Ferguson on be- Ferguson went on to Judgment Obligation
gation of Postmus and half of San Bernardino note that “The settle- Bonds and authoriz-
Biane relating to their County Taxpayers For ment discussions are to ing an indenture and
effort to confer the $77 Fair Resolution fired off take place in an anti- International Swaps
settlement on the Cross- a letter, dated November septic environment after and Derivative Asso-
roads Colonies Partners 6, 2006 to then-board your staff and your con- ciation master agree-
that year. chairman Bill Postmus sultants have conducted ment.”
And information has and board members Bi- significant analysis and Ferguson told the
surfaced to indicate that ane, Dennis Hansberger, your attorneys have board that the 3-2 vote
judge Warner, who re- Ovitt, and Josie Gonza- thoroughly analyzed all accepting the settle-
peated Norell’s ruling les, as well as then-coun- aspects of the litigation, ment was a “viola-
that the county had aban- ty counsel Dennis Wag- before asking ‘Why is tion of the Ralph M.
doned its flood control ner and deputy county the city of Upland not Brown Act.” The
easements on the Colo- counsel Mitch Norton. a party to these discus- Brown Act is the state
nies property after that Ferguson wrote, “My sion when it was the lead of California’s open
ruling had been reversed client, San Bernardino agency?’” meeting law requiring
by the appellate court, Ferguson then that action taken by a
had a close relation- obliquely referenced the governmental board
ship with Dan Richards inevitability of San Ber- be advertised before-
that calls into question nardino County Taxpay- hand and provide for
whether Warner main- ers For Fair Resolution public input.
tained the appropriate joining the legal fray. “The public was
judicial objectivity in “You believe there is informed that you
his hearing of the suit a high likelihood that would be considering
brought by the Colonies this county will be chal- a settlement agree-
Crossroads Partners lenged,” Ferguson wrote. ment which involved
against the county. Paul Biane “If the county defends the transfer of real
The group San Ber- County Taxpayers for its position a challenge property thus requir-
nardino County Taxpay- Fair Resolution, is in- would be unnecessary. ing a 4-to-1 vote. This
ers for Fair Resolution, formed that the board is- The questions are then was a blatant misrep-
founded in 2006 by Up- considering a settlement left be decided by the resentation,” Fergu-
land resident Glenn Bo- proposal for the Colonies trier of fact. My clients son wrote. “It caused
zar, had taken up pointed litigation that requires are of the opinion that those opposed to the
questioning of the deal the payment of $88 mil- your able counsel can settlement to believe
Richards and Burum lion and the transfer of very adequately defend that the settlement
were attempting to work land valued at $14 mil- the county.” would not take place
long before it became lion for a total of $102 In January 2007, two based upon the posi-
fashionable. million to Colonies Part- months after the settle- tion of the various su-
Represented by Cla- ners, Limited Partner- ment was made, Fer- pervisors. What then
remont-based attorney ship,” Ferguson wrote. guson on behalf of San happened is known
C. Robert Ferguson, the Ferguson went on to Bernardino County Tax- in common parlance
group questioned the reference judge Warner’s payers for Fair Resolu- as a “bait and switch.”
ethical propriety of the then-pending decision, tion and another group, The board of supervi-
2005 Postmus/Biane advising the county of- San Bernardino County sors then voted upon
overture with regard to ficials that he believed it Residents Against Gov- a different agreement
the proposed $77 mil- wisest to see the matter ernmental Abuse, sought which involved only
lion settlement offer, as- fully processed through to undo the matter, cit- the payment of money
serting the substantial the court system rather ing technical violations and not the transfer of
political donations that than have politicians of process and the law in real property, thus re-
the two supervisors had who had been provided the passage of the settle- quiring a 3-to-2 vote.”
received from Burum with substantial political ment. Ferguson also
and Richards and their donations by the Colo- Ferguson, in a letter raised an objection
company should have nies Crossroads Part- dated January 23, 2007, to the county’s use
disqualified them as ar- ners resolve the matter. wrote the board of super- of bond financing to
biters of the issue. “My client believes that visors a letter stating that make the settlement
Two weeks before such a settlement is ill- the two groups he repre- payment to the Colo-
the Postmus/Biane/Ovitt advised at this time. It is sented “object to your nies Crossroads Part-
troika conferred the $102 stated that the county is taking any further action ners. “This practice
million settlement upon faced with great pressure to implement the pur- is compounded by the
the Crossroads Colonies to perform before a ten- ported settlement agree- fact that the public is
Partners in November tative decision is made. ment between you and not being allowed an
As the county counsel the Colonies Partners, adequate or reason-
will tell you, decisions L.P., or adopting a reso- able amount of time
can be delayed if mean- lution providing for the to review and effec-
ingful settlement talks issuance and sale of the tively comment on the
are in progress. Such is San Bernardino County proposed bond resolu-
the case here.” Flood Control District tion,” Ferguson wrote.
Continued on Page 8
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Friday, September 11, 2009 San Bernardino County Sentinel Page 7

Ovitt and Leon Help Kick off Keep Art in School Program
ONTARIO—Two lo- “The Music Man” as the any further. He said that musicians to obtain a for about $150. the schools have high
cal politicians this week best high school musical the Keep Art in School necessary element for Lance Ding of quality instruments for
threw their support be- production in the nation. Program, which makes their musical education. Tincheng International, the next generation to
hind an innovative effort Similarly, Ontario High instruments available to Dennis Augustine, said his company has become skilled at.”
to maintain scholastic School’s drum corps and students at a 75 percent the director of sales and become involved in the Supervisor Ovitt said,
music programs in the marching band have won discount over their nor- marketing for Ameri- program because he “I will do everything I
face of financial chal- multiple competitions as mal retail price, will give can Sidco, said that his wants to give back to the can to assist in getting
lenges that have limited well as last year’s Cali- those students who have company has already do- community and live up new musical instruments
the availability of musi- fornia state champion- a desire to pursue music nated three instruments to his social responsibil- into the hands of our stu-
cal instruments for high ship. as a career or hobby pos- to the program and will ity as well as to create dents who desire to en-
school bands. Both Leon and Ovitt sible. donate two more in short a positive image for his hance their lives through
San Bernardino said that the Keep Art in At Thursday’s kick- order. The company is company. learning how to play mu-
County Supervisor Gary School Program offered off for the program, currently seeking per- Mayor Leon said, “A sic.”
Ovitt and Ontario Mayor an opportunity to ensure which took place at On- cussion instruments to tragedy of life is when a Matt Holden, a school
Paul Leon on Thursday that programs that main- tario High School, the be provided to Ontario gift and talent lays latent district official, said it “Is
joined with American tain students’ interest in advanced Ontario High High School to ensure in the person who cannot extremely important to
Sidco, Inc., a manufac- education and cultural School band performed. that its award winning afford the luxury of their keep the arts in school,
turer and distributor of issues remain intact. After a sparkling rendi- drum corps remains ad- own musical instrument even with the budget
musical instruments, to Leon recounted that tion of a tune from Alad- equately outfitted. to train with and practice cuts we are facing.”
actuate the Keep Art in as a teenager he wanted din “Arabian Nights,” Augustine, whose at home. Ontario High Larry Rook, the assis-
School Program. to play the trumpet. He Leon surveyed the per- company works in con- School and other schools tant principal at Ontario
Due to budget short- could not afford one, formers to ask how many junction with Tiancheng have instruments from High School, said “This
ages, art and music pro- however, and because of them owned their own International, Incorpo- log ago, instruments that program is fantastic. The
grams in California’s his talent with the instru- instruments. Many re- rated, said they are mak- have played finer notes material being donated
schools are underfunded. ment was less than some sponded positively. Leon ing instruments avail- in better days gone by. It keeps these kids con-
Despite that, Chaffey and of the other students at then made the point that able to student buyers is now time to rally our nected to the educational
Ontario high schools, re- his high school, he did instrument ownership and their families at a efforts around a new day, process. When these kids
spectively, boast award not qualify to receive had obviously facilitated fifty percent reduction where our championship are involved in the arts
winning drama and mu- one of the school issued the cultivation of their in the wholesale price, groups play on instru- they have better grades,
sic departments. Two instruments. For that talent. He said the Keep meaning an instrument ments they can call their are more focused and
years ago USA Today reason, he did not pur- Art in School program that normally retails for own, not just borrowed have greater opportuni-
selected Chaffey High sue learning the trumpet would allow aspiring $600 can be purchased from school, and where ties to be successful.”
School’s production of

Loma Linda Continuing with Solar Conversions at City Facilities

Knapp & Associates and
The city of Loma Lin- an $8,200 contract with
da is arranging to outfit San Bernardino-based
another of its facilities W.A. Doby Engineering
with solar power. to provide structural en-
This week, the gineering and electrical
city council ratified a engineering services, re-
$14,900 contract with spectively, for the instal-
San Bernardino-based lation of a photo voltaic
Terra from front page
City payments to Ter- official or a business that
ra Loma for the property employs the official or
management service it one with which the of-
provides are made by ficial is professionally
check. Those payments affiliated is construed as
are then ratified by the having a bearing on that
city council as an item official’s financial inter-
on the consent calendar. est.
Available records Though Cortes has
show that in the last not been arrested or
year, the city has made charged for any of her
at least 11 payments to votes, one of her coun-
Terra Loma totalling cil colleagues, council-
$8,366.47. Cortes par- man Jim Miller on July
ticipated in the votes to 15 was arrested by San
approve at least nine of
those, including a vote
made as recently as Au-
Bernardino County dis-
trict attorney’s investi-
gators and charged with
gust 11. violating Government
Cortes last month in- Code section 1090. That
sisted she had done not- charge stemmed from
ing illegal in casting any votes Miller had made to
of those votes. approve the consent cal-
Government Code endar which contained
Section 1090 prohibits check registers that con-
an elected official from tained payments for the
participating in a vote city's legal advertise-
on any matter in which ments that were printed
he or she has a financial in his wife's newspaper,
interest. A payment to a the Grand Terrace City
business owned by that News. Miller’s wife is
system at the city’s cor-
poration yard.
Previously, the coun-
cil had approved a bud-
get item in the amount
of $180,000 to install a
photo votaic system at
the corporate yard. The
purchase of the solar
the sole owner of that
paper and two others,
the Colton City News
and the Loma Linda City
News.
Miller had never vot-
ed to authorize the city
to purchase the ads. That
decision had been made
by city staff members
who had determined that
the rates in the Grand
Terrace City News were
lower than in compet-
ing newspapers. Like
Cortes, Miller had relied
upon an assurance pro-
vided by city attorney
John Harper that as long
as the newspaper was his
wife’s sole property, the
city’s purchase of the ads
from her represented for
Jim Miller no conflict.
It now appears that
the city of Grand Terrace
is rethinking the sound-
ness of Harper’s advice.
“We have a request
for proposals out for a
property manager,” act-
panels will follow the apply for Energy Ef- tural and electrical engi-
preparations now being ficiency and Conserva- neering for the project in
undertaken by Knapp tion Block Grant fund- place will better position
& Associates and W.A ing. The city is eligible the city to receive the
Doby Engineering. to receive up to $123,251 grant.
The city competed a under that program. The Both firms are ap-
solar project at the civic application process for proved city vendors and
center two years ago. the grant opens up this have previously done
The city intends to month. Having the struc- work for the city. Knapp
Continued on Page 8
ing city manager Bernie We’re now refreshing represents a problem for
Simon told the Sentinel our bids for property the city. It is anticipated
this week. “We are in management service.” that in any future votes
the process of ending our Simon said Terra made to confirm pay-
relationship with Terra Loma would be free to ments that will be made
Loma.” put in a bid to provide to Terra Loma to com-
Simon said that as far that service. pensate that company for
as he knew, “There was City officials have work it has carried out
no RFP [request for bid] indicated, however, that or, until a new contract
process that we went the use of one of the city is in place, is continuing
through when we hired council member’s em- to carry out, Cortes will
them [Terra Loma]. ployers as a contractor abstain from those votes
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Friday, September 11, 2009
Colonies
from page 6
could use
In recent weeks, dis-
that publicity
to garner reelection.
trict attorney Mike Ra-
mos has indicated that
Ramos has given indi-
cation that he is coordi-
he has detailed his in- nating with the Califor-
vestigators to a serious nia Attorney General’s
inquiry into the Colo- office in the probe of the
nies settlement and the Colonies matter.
possibility that illegal Glenn Bozar, the
inducements were made founding member of the
to those public officials San Bernardino County
who had a hand in forg- Taxpayers for Fair Reso-
ing it. Ramos, who must lution, told the Sentinel,
stand for reelection next “I’m glad to finally see
year, has an incentive to this is being investigated
make progress toward by the attorney general.
undoing the $102 settle- It was apparent to us
ment. If the investiga- then that the interests
tors and prosecutors who of the taxpayers were
work under him can es- not being looked after.
tablish that Burum and/ Three years later, I think
or Richards crossed the the issues we raised back
line in their dealings then about this very
with Postmus, Biane, questionable settlement
Ovitt or the members of and the backroom politi-
their staffs or with judg- cal deals that were part
es Norell or Warner, he of it remain relevant.”
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San Bernardino County Sentinel
Needles Hospital
from page 2
waiving the requirement
for mandatory hospital
employee enrollment,
at least for the next sev-
eral months. Despite the
upturn in the hospital’s
financial circumstance,
Delmonico said the in-
stitution cannot possibly
afford the expense of
enrollment or the fines
for lack of compliance at
this point.
Simultaneously, the
hospital board of trust-
ees and the Needles city
council are awaiting the
submission of a set of
proposals by various en-
tities to take over opera-
tions at the hospital.
One of these is an
overture by former city
councilwoman Rebec-
ca Valentine, who has
formed a non-profit cor-
poration to assume oper-
ations and the outstand-
ing debt at the facility.
Loma Linda Solar
from page 7
& Associates worked on
the city library addition
and W.A. Doby has done
work on one of the city’s
wells.
Page 8
Parents Seeking Recall of Recent
CVSD Board Appointee Dickie
Charles Dickie, who In handbills that havethat decision was made,
was chosen by the Chino been distributed in con- Attwood, who has been
Valley Unified school junction with the recall previously active with
board to replace Bill petition drive, it is alleged
regard to several issues
Klein in July, has become that the board purpose- roiling in the district,
the target of a recall. fully chose Dickie based pulled candidacy papers
A handful of parents upon his lack of familiar-
to vie to fill the vacancy.
in the district say they ity with the district andInstead of holding the
resent Dickie’s presence the district’s voters’ lack
election, the board on Au-
on the board and they are of familiarity with him.
gust 20 selected Dickie to
petitioning to have him “They picked Mr.
fill Klein’s post for the
removed. Dickie precisely because
remainder of his elective
According to a petition nobody knows him,” a cir-
term, which is next due to
being promulgated by cular states. “The board be contested in Novem-
Peter Attwood and Bill hoped that if nobody ber 2010.
Zeman, Dickie is unfit to knew him then nobody Dickie has lived in
serve on the board. De- would be against him. Chino Hills since 2005
spite Dickie having previ- What's more, the people and was previously em-
ously served in the role of who know and can really ployed as an administra-
a school district adminis- do the job, who know the tor in the Baldwin Park
trator, his critics insist he issues and can think for School District.
is unaware of important themselves, might chal- In that capacity Dickie
issues currently burning lenge the board's foolishattended scores of school
in the district and lacks decisions from within.” board meetings in Bald-
the financial acumen
needed to deal with the
The school board orig-
inally intended to hold
win Park over the years.
He admitted, however,
economic challenges the a special election to re-to having been to only a
district is facing. place Klein, but decided single board meeting in
Recall proponents ap- against that option when the Chino Valley district.
pear to be as upset with it was learned from the Attwood and Zeman cit-
the board members who registrar of voters that it
ed this as an indication of
appointed Dickie as they would cost $460,000 to his lack of interest in the
are with Dickie himself. do that balloting. Beforedistrict.
Ramos has been hit with charges of carrying on with several
Stout
of the female employees in his office, ignoring wrong doing
from page 2
by his political allies and engaging in prosecutions of public
officials in cases where slim or nonexistent evidence is available as part of an ef-
fort to garner public acclaim.
“I’m concerned that the incumbent DA’s mounting ethical problems are dam-
aging the morale of the outstanding staff in our district attorney’s office. The
public cannot afford to lose these fine men and women,” said Stout.
“In the weeks ahead, I will be listening carefully to the concerns of law en-
forcement professionals, community officials, business leaders and the citizens
of San Bernardino. Their counsel will guide my decision about seeking election
to the office of district attorney,” concluded Stout.
Stout, 61, was a deputy prosecutor with the district attorney’s office for 17
years before he was elected district attorney.
He is a Vietnam War veteran and a graduate of the University of California at
Riverside, with a bachelor of arts in political science. He received his Juris Doc-
tor degree from the University of La Verne, College of Law.

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