Sunday, December 19, 2010
Pull up at any busy intersection where bikes and cars meet, and it's often a free-for-all. Pedalers shoot through red lights and blow stop signs. Drivers honk, shout and swerve into bike lanes. It's clear that the city's official encouragement of bicycling has not be accompanied by sufficient respect for the law, by cyclists or motorists.
A civil grand jury report found that police avoid bike-versus-car disputes because of San Francisco's mixed-up feelings: We want more people to ride but don't want to crack down on bike-messenger riding habits. Barely 1 percent of the 204,673 traffic citations written last year went to cyclists for violations such as running lights, riding on sidewalks and "salmoning" or pedaling the wrong direction on a one-way street. Neither drivers nor riders are protected by this no-rules environment.
Along with enforcement, there needs to be education. Riders are allowed the full use of driving lanes, the same as any vehicle, though few drivers can stem their impatience at a dawdling rider taking up the full road. The city's network of lanes and suggested riding streets is little known, one side-effect of an obstructionist lawsuit that delayed bike lane work for four years until this year. The learning curve has barely begun.
Unless more is done in these areas, the grand jury warned, "serious mistrust, conflict, and misunderstandings" will continue to be the rule and undermine a promising program. The word has to get out about both personal rights, restrictions and travel options.
Such attitude and behaviorial changes are essential to establishing what should be a golden age of bike riding in San Francisco. Ridership is up over 50 percent in four years. White paint is going down on 31 more miles of bike lanes on top of 48 miles already striped. A regional system will soon roll out 500 rental bikes across the city.
The surge is fueled by a generational change in a city where young people flock to live in the South of Market, Hayes Valley and Mission neighborhoods, all flat areas where bike riding makes sense. But the city's also a car-clogged place dotted with steep hills, narrow streets and distant neighborhoods where riding is less of an option.
In encouraging more riding - as a 190-page official bike plan does - the city needs to be better prepared. It has begun a five-year, $25 million program bringing more lanes, parking spots and other traffic changes. But there are missing ingredients: law enforcement and public awareness.
But there's no question that bike riding has taken hold and bloomed. Riding to work, while about 3 percent of the total commute, is rising year by the year. The city has a bike-riding goal of 20 percent of the transportation-to-work pool in 10 years.
This target may sound high, but it's easy to see understand why riders and city officials are in agreement. Bikes are cheap, enviro-friendly and healthy. They don't need a vast infrastructure such as fleets of Muni buses, costly freeways or armies of workers to run things. In a city facing a $400 million deficit, bike riding is a nearly free transit option, one that will grow if Muni service is depleted further.
One example of a bike-influenced thoroughfare is Valencia Street, redone recently to add bike lanes amid little protest in a neighborhood filled with cycling shops, young people and flat pavement. The bike traffic feeds into Market Street, which has become a test lab for bike riding, ranging from pot-holed plain-Jane sections to green-painted bike-only lanes alongside Muni tracks. The city is due to remake Market in the next few years with a plan that will be a major test of bike riding's appeal and promise.
Market is already one of the busiest bike-riding pathways in the country, according to Andy Thornley, program director for the Bicycle Coalition. His group has grown from 5,000 members to 12,000 in five years, making the organization a political force via election endorsements and courting of City Hall decision-makers.
On its website, the bike group offers its own futuristic image of San Francisco that includes crosstown bike lanes, a waterfront bridge and even a conveyor-belt-style lift that hauls bikers up steep hills.
Cycling's rising popularity doesn't make it immune to opposition. Other cities, notably New York, have faced revolt and taken out bike lanes where neighbors, drivers and merchants objected. No such rebellion has happened here, perhaps because an expansion of bike programs was held up by legal delays and is only now rolling out.
Bond Yee, the director of sustainable streets for the Municipal Transportation Agency, suggested another reason. The city's famously drawn-out policymaking, built around hearings and lengthy comment periods, has accommodated most objections. "We're getting very little negative pushback," Yee said.
San Francisco clearly wants to accommodate bike riding in a major way. But it must be accompanied by a recognition that bicyclists must follow the rules - and San Francisco police should be willing to enforce them.
This article appeared on page E - 10 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/18/EDCL1F4T9E.DTL#ixzz19wLnQdgE
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Editorial: DA, FBI and grand jury must probe Hercules dealings
MediaNews editorial
Posted: 12/25/2010 09:00:00 PM PST
Updated: 12/27/2010 08:57:23 AM PST
THE LONG overdue cleanup of the fiscally and ethically challenged Hercules city government has begun. But the announcement last week of the imminent departure of the nepotistic city manager who pushed $3 million in no-bid contracts for a business headed by his young daughters will not be nearly enough to remove the stench from City Hall.
The Contra Costa district attorney, the county grand jury and the FBI need to carefully review the city's insider dealing under the tenure of outgoing City Manager Nelson Oliva, whom we hope will finally be out for good on Jan. 9. And the city must bring in financial experts to determine the full extent of Hercules fiscal woes.
As for leadership, City Attorney Mick Cabral, who publicly excused Oliva's behavior, must go next. And Mayor Ed Balico should submit his resignation immediately. If he doesn't, he should be recalled along with council members Joanne Ward and Don Kuehne, as we said about two weeks ago when we took the very unusual step of calling for removal of elected officials from office.
We wish we sensed that the City Council's termination of Oliva marked an ethical awakening by Balico, Ward and Kuehne; instead, we only see politically opportune bowing to public pressure in hopes that it will subside. Worse, when it comes to Balico, we continue to learn more about his attempts to leverage his political position for personal gain.
The entire episode has been an embarrassment for one of the fastest-growing cities in the East Bay, a community that holds great promise but has been hampered by leaders out for their own financial or political benefit.
For example, over the past three years, Oliva has recommended, and the council has approved, the no-bid service contracts for the firm he once owned, the firm for which two of his daughters until recently served as CEO and chief financial officer. The firm, in turn, instigated the awarding of questionable redevelopment agency loans to one of its own employees and to city workers, including Oliva's administrative assistant, who, a month later, was appointed to the board of directors of the Oliva family firm.
City Council members knew about the nepotism for more than a year, yet did nothing. As Election Day neared this year and public pressure mounted, Oliva went out on medical leave, and the council brought in an interim replacement, Charlie Long, a no-nonsense financial expert and former city manager. Long was to stay eight months and to start cleaning up the mess.
He moved quickly, slashing the city contract with the Oliva family firm and exposing the city's severe financial condition. Meanwhile, voters booted out two council members who were up for re-election this year. (The terms of Balico, Ward and Kuehne last until 2012.) Then, after Election Day but before new members were installed, the City Council abruptly fired Long and, amazingly, brought back Oliva.
The reasoning was ridiculous, but basically came down to claims that Long was moving too fast, acting on his own and making too much information public. In other words, he was embarrassing the council by candidly discussing the city's finances and trying to fix the problem.
Worse, Long later revealed in a letter to the council, Balico was complaining that publicity about the city's finances was hurting his ability to market his personal waste-to-energy business to other cities. It turns out that Balico had joined in that business with Oliva's mentor, former City Manager Mike Sakamoto.
Sakamoto was also under contract to the city of Hercules both directly and indirectly through the Oliva family firm. In other words, Balico, on the one hand, solicited Sakamoto to join the efforts of his personal waste-to-energy firm and, on the other hand, had approved contracts from which Sakamoto benefitted. The conflict was morally and ethically wrong; authorities must determine if it crossed a legal line.
As for Ward and Kuehne, there's no indication they have financially benefitted. But their support of the retention of Oliva for so long, their participation in the firing of Long and their public silence on the ethical breaches in City Hall indicate they were most concerned about their political futures, that they lack the moral leadership essential for public office. We keep looking for signs to the contrary and have yet to see them. The two either need to speak up now and convince the community that they have ethical backbones, or they need to go as well.
Hercules deserves leaders who will look out for the residents, not for themselves.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_16937730?nclick_check=1
Posted: 12/25/2010 09:00:00 PM PST
Updated: 12/27/2010 08:57:23 AM PST
THE LONG overdue cleanup of the fiscally and ethically challenged Hercules city government has begun. But the announcement last week of the imminent departure of the nepotistic city manager who pushed $3 million in no-bid contracts for a business headed by his young daughters will not be nearly enough to remove the stench from City Hall.
The Contra Costa district attorney, the county grand jury and the FBI need to carefully review the city's insider dealing under the tenure of outgoing City Manager Nelson Oliva, whom we hope will finally be out for good on Jan. 9. And the city must bring in financial experts to determine the full extent of Hercules fiscal woes.
As for leadership, City Attorney Mick Cabral, who publicly excused Oliva's behavior, must go next. And Mayor Ed Balico should submit his resignation immediately. If he doesn't, he should be recalled along with council members Joanne Ward and Don Kuehne, as we said about two weeks ago when we took the very unusual step of calling for removal of elected officials from office.
We wish we sensed that the City Council's termination of Oliva marked an ethical awakening by Balico, Ward and Kuehne; instead, we only see politically opportune bowing to public pressure in hopes that it will subside. Worse, when it comes to Balico, we continue to learn more about his attempts to leverage his political position for personal gain.
The entire episode has been an embarrassment for one of the fastest-growing cities in the East Bay, a community that holds great promise but has been hampered by leaders out for their own financial or political benefit.
For example, over the past three years, Oliva has recommended, and the council has approved, the no-bid service contracts for the firm he once owned, the firm for which two of his daughters until recently served as CEO and chief financial officer. The firm, in turn, instigated the awarding of questionable redevelopment agency loans to one of its own employees and to city workers, including Oliva's administrative assistant, who, a month later, was appointed to the board of directors of the Oliva family firm.
City Council members knew about the nepotism for more than a year, yet did nothing. As Election Day neared this year and public pressure mounted, Oliva went out on medical leave, and the council brought in an interim replacement, Charlie Long, a no-nonsense financial expert and former city manager. Long was to stay eight months and to start cleaning up the mess.
He moved quickly, slashing the city contract with the Oliva family firm and exposing the city's severe financial condition. Meanwhile, voters booted out two council members who were up for re-election this year. (The terms of Balico, Ward and Kuehne last until 2012.) Then, after Election Day but before new members were installed, the City Council abruptly fired Long and, amazingly, brought back Oliva.
The reasoning was ridiculous, but basically came down to claims that Long was moving too fast, acting on his own and making too much information public. In other words, he was embarrassing the council by candidly discussing the city's finances and trying to fix the problem.
Worse, Long later revealed in a letter to the council, Balico was complaining that publicity about the city's finances was hurting his ability to market his personal waste-to-energy business to other cities. It turns out that Balico had joined in that business with Oliva's mentor, former City Manager Mike Sakamoto.
Sakamoto was also under contract to the city of Hercules both directly and indirectly through the Oliva family firm. In other words, Balico, on the one hand, solicited Sakamoto to join the efforts of his personal waste-to-energy firm and, on the other hand, had approved contracts from which Sakamoto benefitted. The conflict was morally and ethically wrong; authorities must determine if it crossed a legal line.
As for Ward and Kuehne, there's no indication they have financially benefitted. But their support of the retention of Oliva for so long, their participation in the firing of Long and their public silence on the ethical breaches in City Hall indicate they were most concerned about their political futures, that they lack the moral leadership essential for public office. We keep looking for signs to the contrary and have yet to see them. The two either need to speak up now and convince the community that they have ethical backbones, or they need to go as well.
Hercules deserves leaders who will look out for the residents, not for themselves.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_16937730?nclick_check=1
Victorville Mayor calls for closure in grand jury, SEC, USCIS probes
Federal, county investigations cost Victorville $300,000
December 25, 2010 1:43 PM
VICTORVILLE • The cost and strain of responding to lengthy investigations by two federal and one county agency has newly seated Mayor Ryan McEachron calling for an end to the inquiries — though he first requested the forensic audit by the San Bernardino County Grand Jury.
The cost of responding has topped $300,000 in staff time and attorney fees, city officials estimated.
“I think that the forensic auditor has requested as much documentation as he possibly can,” McEachron said, with New York-based firm Kessler International at work since May investigating the city’s books through a special $195,000 appropriation by the county Board of Supervisors. “If he has found some wrongdoing, then it needs to be put out there. If people have done something criminally wrong they need to be brought to justice. And if he hasn’t, then we need to know that, too. Either way I think the investigation needs to come to an end and a report needs to be issued.”
McEachron said his request for a forensic audit called for the investigator to look at very specific things he’d heard concerns about since taking office in 2008.
“I asked them to look at contracts that the city had in place and was there anything wrong with those,” McEachron said, “as well as to look at payroll, which was put under IT, and was there anything done wrong there, such people getting paychecks that shouldn’t have been getting paychecks.”
Now McEachron said it appears the auditor has expanded the inquiry to include “everything under the sun” — though he believes the saying “no news is good news” likely applies here.
“The fact that no indictments have been issued, nothing has come out that there has been any criminal wrongdoing, makes me cautiously optimistic,” the mayor said. “...Stealing of taxpayer money is a big deal, so you just don’t let someone that’s done that sit around.”
McEachron is also anxious for the Security and Exchange Commission to wrap up its months-long investigation into the city’s bond issuances.
Victorville is also waiting to hear back from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on an appeal filed last month against the federal agency’s decision to terminate its EB-5 Regional Center program.
Brooke Edwards may be reached at (760) 955-5358 or at bedwards@VVDailyPress.com.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/victorville-25015-jury-mayor.html
December 25, 2010 1:43 PM
VICTORVILLE • The cost and strain of responding to lengthy investigations by two federal and one county agency has newly seated Mayor Ryan McEachron calling for an end to the inquiries — though he first requested the forensic audit by the San Bernardino County Grand Jury.
The cost of responding has topped $300,000 in staff time and attorney fees, city officials estimated.
“I think that the forensic auditor has requested as much documentation as he possibly can,” McEachron said, with New York-based firm Kessler International at work since May investigating the city’s books through a special $195,000 appropriation by the county Board of Supervisors. “If he has found some wrongdoing, then it needs to be put out there. If people have done something criminally wrong they need to be brought to justice. And if he hasn’t, then we need to know that, too. Either way I think the investigation needs to come to an end and a report needs to be issued.”
McEachron said his request for a forensic audit called for the investigator to look at very specific things he’d heard concerns about since taking office in 2008.
“I asked them to look at contracts that the city had in place and was there anything wrong with those,” McEachron said, “as well as to look at payroll, which was put under IT, and was there anything done wrong there, such people getting paychecks that shouldn’t have been getting paychecks.”
Now McEachron said it appears the auditor has expanded the inquiry to include “everything under the sun” — though he believes the saying “no news is good news” likely applies here.
“The fact that no indictments have been issued, nothing has come out that there has been any criminal wrongdoing, makes me cautiously optimistic,” the mayor said. “...Stealing of taxpayer money is a big deal, so you just don’t let someone that’s done that sit around.”
McEachron is also anxious for the Security and Exchange Commission to wrap up its months-long investigation into the city’s bond issuances.
Victorville is also waiting to hear back from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on an appeal filed last month against the federal agency’s decision to terminate its EB-5 Regional Center program.
Brooke Edwards may be reached at (760) 955-5358 or at bedwards@VVDailyPress.com.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/victorville-25015-jury-mayor.html
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
State AG offers legal opinion on Daly City city clerk's post
By Neil Gonzales
ngonzales@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 12/21/2010 07:00:49 PM PST
Updated: 12/21/2010 07:00:50 PM PST
Annette Hipona, city clerk of Daly City, didn't have to leave her seat on the local school board after she was elected to the city post two years ago, state Attorney General and governor-elect Jerry Brown said in a recent legal opinion.
State law does not prohibit an elected city clerk from also serving on the school board in the same city, according to the opinion obtained by the Metropolitan News-Enterprise, a Los Angeles newspaper focused on law, the courts and other issues.
The opinion pleased Hipona, who was elected as city clerk in November 2008 while still serving on the board of the Daly City-based Jefferson Elementary District.
"I have always believed that (the positions of) school board member and city clerk were not incompatible since they (have) no connection with each other," Hipona said Tuesday in a statement to the Times. "Before I even considered running for city clerk, I did extensive research regarding this situation and found no conflict. It is nice to be vindicated."
Hipona recalled that some city and school leaders believed at the time there was a conflict of interest, creating the appearance of impropriety.
"I could not put the school district in a negative position with concerns of conflict of interest, even though there was none," said Hipona, who resigned from the Jefferson board in March 2009.
"I loved my time on the school board," she added. "Children and education have always been important to me. ... (This opinion) will provide an opportunity for city clerks to serve on the school board."
San Mateo County Counsel Michael Murphy asked for the opinion following Hipona's election as city clerk, the Metropolitan News-Enterprise reported. Murphy could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
As part of his opinion, the Metropolitan News-Enterprise reported, the attorney general determined that the offices of city clerk and school trustee are compatible because neither has authority over the other.
Hipona also earned a measure of vindication in 2009 when a county civil grand jury report concluded that Daly City was unjustified in slashing her pay from $101,374 to $52,988 a year and recommended that the decision be reversed.
However, the city argued that the reduction was justified based on financial and personnel factors, and Hipona's pay was not restored.
Contact Neil Gonzales at 650-348-4338.
http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_16915277?nclick_check=1
ngonzales@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 12/21/2010 07:00:49 PM PST
Updated: 12/21/2010 07:00:50 PM PST
Annette Hipona, city clerk of Daly City, didn't have to leave her seat on the local school board after she was elected to the city post two years ago, state Attorney General and governor-elect Jerry Brown said in a recent legal opinion.
State law does not prohibit an elected city clerk from also serving on the school board in the same city, according to the opinion obtained by the Metropolitan News-Enterprise, a Los Angeles newspaper focused on law, the courts and other issues.
The opinion pleased Hipona, who was elected as city clerk in November 2008 while still serving on the board of the Daly City-based Jefferson Elementary District.
"I have always believed that (the positions of) school board member and city clerk were not incompatible since they (have) no connection with each other," Hipona said Tuesday in a statement to the Times. "Before I even considered running for city clerk, I did extensive research regarding this situation and found no conflict. It is nice to be vindicated."
Hipona recalled that some city and school leaders believed at the time there was a conflict of interest, creating the appearance of impropriety.
"I could not put the school district in a negative position with concerns of conflict of interest, even though there was none," said Hipona, who resigned from the Jefferson board in March 2009.
"I loved my time on the school board," she added. "Children and education have always been important to me. ... (This opinion) will provide an opportunity for city clerks to serve on the school board."
San Mateo County Counsel Michael Murphy asked for the opinion following Hipona's election as city clerk, the Metropolitan News-Enterprise reported. Murphy could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
As part of his opinion, the Metropolitan News-Enterprise reported, the attorney general determined that the offices of city clerk and school trustee are compatible because neither has authority over the other.
Hipona also earned a measure of vindication in 2009 when a county civil grand jury report concluded that Daly City was unjustified in slashing her pay from $101,374 to $52,988 a year and recommended that the decision be reversed.
However, the city argued that the reduction was justified based on financial and personnel factors, and Hipona's pay was not restored.
Contact Neil Gonzales at 650-348-4338.
http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_16915277?nclick_check=1
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Kern Grand Jury: RPD well-run organization
Posted Dec 07, 2010 @ 06:00 AM
Print Comment
Ridgecrest, Calif. —
The Kern County Grand Jury said the Ridgecrest Police Department is a well-run organization.
In its report released Monday, the jury found that since the chief of police took control of the animal shelter, the department has been able to reduce the number of animals euthanized through an “adopt-out” program of the animals to Canada. The department also sends dogs to specific breed-rescue programs.
The report noted there is no major drug or gang activity within its jurisdiction, the animal shelter is also under the control of the chief of police, and the department has two K-9 units which were purchased through public donations and assist the sheriff’s deputies upon request.
The Grand Jury report also noted the department has a teen court program through a local church. “This is for first-time juvenile offenders and is managed by the Kern County Probation Department,” said the report. “The local Deputy District Attorney acts as the Judge and teen members who have successfully completed the program act as jurors.”
The jurors of the teen court sentence the juvenile offenders to community service, a fine, letters of apology or accountability. The parents or guardians of the teen have to be involved and must be present during the Court hearing.
“This is done in a formal setting,” the report stated. “The chief reported they have a low recidivism rate due to the program.”
The jury expressed concerns about the RPD patrol fleet.
“Due to budget restraints, the patrol cars are an aging fleet,” said the report. “Many of the cars have 150,000 to 160,000 miles of service. Two new cars are expected.”
Three motorcycles are used for traffic control enforcement.
According to the report, the chief reported that they have a good relationship with the local schools through contact with the principals and/or resource officer at the local high school.
There are 30 active Community Emergency Response Team members and more than 300 have been trained for this program.
The report also stated Police and Community Together program that works through four organizations with a total of 60 volunteers. The volunteers work at such activities as animal control, records, graffiti and traffic control, etc. The volunteers perform more than 10,000 hours of service to aid the department each year.
The department must respond within 90 days.
The report can be seen at www.co.kern.ca.us. Click on Grand Jury for access to the report.
http://www.ridgecrestca.com/newsnow/x1646546359/Grand-Jury-RPD-well-run-organization
Print Comment
Ridgecrest, Calif. —
The Kern County Grand Jury said the Ridgecrest Police Department is a well-run organization.
In its report released Monday, the jury found that since the chief of police took control of the animal shelter, the department has been able to reduce the number of animals euthanized through an “adopt-out” program of the animals to Canada. The department also sends dogs to specific breed-rescue programs.
The report noted there is no major drug or gang activity within its jurisdiction, the animal shelter is also under the control of the chief of police, and the department has two K-9 units which were purchased through public donations and assist the sheriff’s deputies upon request.
The Grand Jury report also noted the department has a teen court program through a local church. “This is for first-time juvenile offenders and is managed by the Kern County Probation Department,” said the report. “The local Deputy District Attorney acts as the Judge and teen members who have successfully completed the program act as jurors.”
The jurors of the teen court sentence the juvenile offenders to community service, a fine, letters of apology or accountability. The parents or guardians of the teen have to be involved and must be present during the Court hearing.
“This is done in a formal setting,” the report stated. “The chief reported they have a low recidivism rate due to the program.”
The jury expressed concerns about the RPD patrol fleet.
“Due to budget restraints, the patrol cars are an aging fleet,” said the report. “Many of the cars have 150,000 to 160,000 miles of service. Two new cars are expected.”
Three motorcycles are used for traffic control enforcement.
According to the report, the chief reported that they have a good relationship with the local schools through contact with the principals and/or resource officer at the local high school.
There are 30 active Community Emergency Response Team members and more than 300 have been trained for this program.
The report also stated Police and Community Together program that works through four organizations with a total of 60 volunteers. The volunteers work at such activities as animal control, records, graffiti and traffic control, etc. The volunteers perform more than 10,000 hours of service to aid the department each year.
The department must respond within 90 days.
The report can be seen at www.co.kern.ca.us. Click on Grand Jury for access to the report.
http://www.ridgecrestca.com/newsnow/x1646546359/Grand-Jury-RPD-well-run-organization
Monday, December 6, 2010
Internal Affairs: More trouble for Genghis Dan
Posted: 12/06/2010 07:51:20 AM PST
Updated: 12/06/2010 07:52:00 AM PST
Controversies surrounding
Dan Fenton, the CEO of Team San Jose, just won't go away.
As if two civil grand jury investigations, a default notice filed by San Jose for overspending his budget, an unfavorable report from the city auditor and growing impatience by the City Council with Team San Jose's problems weren't enough, now comes word that Fenton and his group -- which runs the city's convention center and downtown theaters -- may be sued.
Don Lessem, the organizer behind "Genghis Khan: The Exhibition,'' which ran from late May through Nov. 1 at the Tech Museum, said that after weeks of stonewalling by Fenton, he's suing Team San Jose for not paying $170,000 of a $300,000 guarantee the group gave his company verbally and in writing.
Together with a group of Bay Area Mongolian-Americans (Khan, of course, was Mongolian), Lessem plans to hold a news conference Monday morning in front of Team San Jose's downtown headquarters to announce the lawsuit.
"I have offered Dan Fenton, Team San Jose CEO, installment plans, and even to forego additional gift shop sales income due us, simply to make sure they honored their legal commitments. They refuse,'' he wrote Mayor Chuck Reed in a November e-mail.
"I have no option but to sue, to alert other international exhibition organizers, and to take my grievance to the ... media.''
Lessem, who has been in the exhibit business 16 years, called Team San
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Jose's behavior "unprecedented.''
In an e-mail to the Mercury News, Fenton characterized the issue as "a disagreement,'' saying "full payment has already been tendered and ... no additional amounts are due."
If all of this seems like a scene from the movie "Groundhog Day,'' you're right.
Last year, Team San Jose attracted widespread industry condemnation after Fenton announced an exclusive agreement with San Jose Teamsters to do work at the convention center that previously had been split with the San Francisco local. His own board was blindsided by the move and subsequent negative headlines.
In fact, San Jose's reputation with convention and trade show groups became so problematic that Fenton and two board members were forced to fly to Dallas to mollify customers and leaders of the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association.
Fenton's national reputation, as one industry leader involved in that brouhaha told IA, is well-known: "Dan Fenton rarely ever says anything officially that you can hold him to."
Internal Affairs is an offbeat look at local politics. This week's items were written by Tracy Seipel, John Woolfolk, Tracey Kaplan and Scott Herhold. Send tips to internalaffairs@mercurynews.com, or call 408-271-3638.
http://www.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/ci_16765961?nclick_check=1
Updated: 12/06/2010 07:52:00 AM PST
Controversies surrounding
Dan Fenton, the CEO of Team San Jose, just won't go away.
As if two civil grand jury investigations, a default notice filed by San Jose for overspending his budget, an unfavorable report from the city auditor and growing impatience by the City Council with Team San Jose's problems weren't enough, now comes word that Fenton and his group -- which runs the city's convention center and downtown theaters -- may be sued.
Don Lessem, the organizer behind "Genghis Khan: The Exhibition,'' which ran from late May through Nov. 1 at the Tech Museum, said that after weeks of stonewalling by Fenton, he's suing Team San Jose for not paying $170,000 of a $300,000 guarantee the group gave his company verbally and in writing.
Together with a group of Bay Area Mongolian-Americans (Khan, of course, was Mongolian), Lessem plans to hold a news conference Monday morning in front of Team San Jose's downtown headquarters to announce the lawsuit.
"I have offered Dan Fenton, Team San Jose CEO, installment plans, and even to forego additional gift shop sales income due us, simply to make sure they honored their legal commitments. They refuse,'' he wrote Mayor Chuck Reed in a November e-mail.
"I have no option but to sue, to alert other international exhibition organizers, and to take my grievance to the ... media.''
Lessem, who has been in the exhibit business 16 years, called Team San
Advertisement
Jose's behavior "unprecedented.''
In an e-mail to the Mercury News, Fenton characterized the issue as "a disagreement,'' saying "full payment has already been tendered and ... no additional amounts are due."
If all of this seems like a scene from the movie "Groundhog Day,'' you're right.
Last year, Team San Jose attracted widespread industry condemnation after Fenton announced an exclusive agreement with San Jose Teamsters to do work at the convention center that previously had been split with the San Francisco local. His own board was blindsided by the move and subsequent negative headlines.
In fact, San Jose's reputation with convention and trade show groups became so problematic that Fenton and two board members were forced to fly to Dallas to mollify customers and leaders of the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association.
Fenton's national reputation, as one industry leader involved in that brouhaha told IA, is well-known: "Dan Fenton rarely ever says anything officially that you can hold him to."
Internal Affairs is an offbeat look at local politics. This week's items were written by Tracy Seipel, John Woolfolk, Tracey Kaplan and Scott Herhold. Send tips to internalaffairs@mercurynews.com, or call 408-271-3638.
http://www.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/ci_16765961?nclick_check=1
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Merced County grand jury indicts 3 leaders of Firm Build
Authorities say students were exposed to asbestos during work at Castle.
By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton@mercedsun-star.com
Three former Firm Build executives accused of knowingly exposing high school students to cancer-causing asbestos have been indicted on several charges of child endangerment by a Merced County grand jury.
The grand jury indictments in the case against the three men -- Rudy Buendia III, 47, Patrick Bowman, 44, and Joseph Cuellar, 71 -- came Friday afternoon after three weeks of testimony by more than 80 witnesses.
At the time the trio was arrested on the charges in May, five former students allegedly exposed to asbestos between August 2005 and March 2006 had come forward. Since then, that number has increased to nine.
The grand jury also indicted the trio on a host of additional charges, including grand theft, falsifying corporate reports, perjury and forgery, stemming from the district attorney's 2008 financial investigation of Firm Build.
All three men have steadfastly denied the allegations and have pleaded not guilty.
Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse II said his office decided to take the case to a grand jury, rather than a preliminary hearing because of the case's complexity and the number of counts involved.
Deputy District Attorney Walter Wall, prosecutor in the case, said the grand jury added 15 additional counts to the indictment besides the 52 counts sought by prosecutors. "There was overwhelming evidence of guilt. That's why the grand jury added on counts over and above what we recommended," Wall said.
In a preliminary hearing, a judge decides whether enough evidence exists to allow a case to proceed to trial. In California, prosecutors have the option of presenting their evidence to a criminal grand jury, rather than a judge. The county's grand jury is a panel composed of 19 citizens.
The grand jury indicted Buendia and Cuellar on 62 counts, while Bowman was indicted on 52 counts.
The nine victims, who were around 16 and 17 years old at the time, allegedly removed asbestos, without the required safety equipment, on numerous occasions from the Automotive Training Center, at the Castle Commerce Center, under the direction of Firm Build.
The defendants allegedly used the students to remove the asbestos from the building under the guise of involving at-risk students in work experience and job training programs. The students allegedly removed asbestos floor tiles and insulation from pipes inside the old military building, creating an airborne cloud of asbestos fibers they may have inhaled.
At the time, Bowman was Firm Build's board president and coordinator of the Workplace Learning Academy, created at Valley Community School to teach trade skills for at-risk students. Buendia was the nonprofit's project manager, while Cuellar was an administrative manager, according to D.A. investigators.
Morse said the investigation points to "an appalling lack of oversight" and "sweeping negligence" at the highest levels of the Merced County Office of Education, in terms of its relationship with Firm Build and the office's responsibility to students under their care.
Asked to elaborate about the lack of oversight and those involved other than the defendants, Morse said he couldn't comment further because of the ongoing investigation. "There is ample information that the safeguards that should have been in place, or were in place to protect these students, were either ignored or marginalized."
Nathan Quevedo, spokesman for the Merced County Office of Education, said his office has "cooperated with all requests from the district attorney's office."
Quevedo also said an outside investigator, Sacramento attorney Donna Matties, conducted her own six-week investigation into the asbestos allegations. "MCOE hired an outside investigator to ensure the integrity of the investigation and remove any perception of a conflict of interest or bias," Quevedo said.
Quevedo said her report is confidential because it's a personnel matter, but added, "We cannot substantiate the allegations that students who worked at the (Automotive Training Center) were exposed to asbestos."
Bowman is employed as a math and algebra instructor at Valley Community School in Los Banos, Quevedo said.
Defense attorneys in the case say their clients maintain their innocence. Ralph Temple, Bowman's attorney, said his client was a volunteer who was asked to serve on Firm Build's board. "He never was paid a dime," Temple said. "He never got any money out of Firm Build whatsoever."
Temple said his client, as a schoolteacher, would never "harm anybody" or expose students to asbestos. Temple added his client was only an intermediary between MCOE and Firm Build, adding that he's an educator, not an expert in contracting or construction. "If there was a problem (with asbestos), the people who were qualified to take care of it were supposed to do that," Temple said.
Kirk McAllister, Buendia's attorney, said he believes Morse's office chose to pursue the case in front of a grand jury because of the procedural advantages allowed by the prosecution. Unlike a preliminary hearing, defense attorneys cannot cross-examine witnesses or ask questions.
Grand jury hearings, unlike preliminary hearings, are also closed to defense attorneys and the public. "This is a regurgitation of the charges that Mr. Buendia has been fighting for the last two years," McAllister said. "If Mr. Wall's evidence was so overwhelming, why will he only show it behind the closed doors of a grand jury, where everything looks overwhelming in the eyes of a prosecutor, instead of testing it in court as we've been trying to do at a preliminary hearing?"
McAllister said the defense has tried getting the case more than once to a preliminary hearing. "Each time we did, there was some roadblock thrown in front of us by the district attorney, the last being them stepping in front of that open courtroom process by hiding behind the closed doors of the grand jury."
Cuellar's attorney, Douglas Foster, did not return calls placed to his office.
Firm Build was launched in 1998 as a program of the Merced County Housing Authority to modernize its stock of public housing while giving residents marketable skills. The nonprofit contracted with MCOE to provide instructors to teach at-risk students in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP).
MCOE signed a lease for the 2245 Jetstream Drive building in June 2005, with the intent to use vocational students to remodel the facility into an automotive teaching center. The documents revealed that asbestos, lead-based paint, black mold and groundwater contamination were present at the site.
The lease was negotiated by Bowman and his assistant Jack Weaver, who is now deceased, over the course of 18 months, according to D.A.'s office investigators. Firm Build's leaders allegedly lied to its board, the county and state regulators about the nature of the renovation. Firm Build's application for a county building permit listed minimal work, such as painting walls and installing a garage door. Still, D.A. investigators say teens soon started removing the carcinogenic material from the building.
In addition to the state charges, all three defendants face federal charges for allegedly submitting false statements to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, several violations of the Clean Air Act and knowingly endangering others by releasing asbestos into the air.
Firm Build went bankrupt in mid-2007, leaving bills and loans unpaid with the Housing Authority and subcontractors. That prompted a District Attorney's Office financial investigation that lasted 15 months and culminated in the defendants' arrests on several charges, including embezzlement, diversion of construction funds and grand theft.
In November 2009, the District Attorney's Office launched its investigation into the asbestos allegations after receiving a witness tip from an electrician.
If convicted on the federal charges, the trio faces 15 years in prison. If convicted on the state charges, they face around 30 years in prison.
All three defendants remain free on bail. Their next hearing in Merced County Superior Court is scheduled for Dec. 10.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/11/24/1666434/grand-jury-indicts-3-leaders-of.html
By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton@mercedsun-star.com
Three former Firm Build executives accused of knowingly exposing high school students to cancer-causing asbestos have been indicted on several charges of child endangerment by a Merced County grand jury.
The grand jury indictments in the case against the three men -- Rudy Buendia III, 47, Patrick Bowman, 44, and Joseph Cuellar, 71 -- came Friday afternoon after three weeks of testimony by more than 80 witnesses.
At the time the trio was arrested on the charges in May, five former students allegedly exposed to asbestos between August 2005 and March 2006 had come forward. Since then, that number has increased to nine.
The grand jury also indicted the trio on a host of additional charges, including grand theft, falsifying corporate reports, perjury and forgery, stemming from the district attorney's 2008 financial investigation of Firm Build.
All three men have steadfastly denied the allegations and have pleaded not guilty.
Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse II said his office decided to take the case to a grand jury, rather than a preliminary hearing because of the case's complexity and the number of counts involved.
Deputy District Attorney Walter Wall, prosecutor in the case, said the grand jury added 15 additional counts to the indictment besides the 52 counts sought by prosecutors. "There was overwhelming evidence of guilt. That's why the grand jury added on counts over and above what we recommended," Wall said.
In a preliminary hearing, a judge decides whether enough evidence exists to allow a case to proceed to trial. In California, prosecutors have the option of presenting their evidence to a criminal grand jury, rather than a judge. The county's grand jury is a panel composed of 19 citizens.
The grand jury indicted Buendia and Cuellar on 62 counts, while Bowman was indicted on 52 counts.
The nine victims, who were around 16 and 17 years old at the time, allegedly removed asbestos, without the required safety equipment, on numerous occasions from the Automotive Training Center, at the Castle Commerce Center, under the direction of Firm Build.
The defendants allegedly used the students to remove the asbestos from the building under the guise of involving at-risk students in work experience and job training programs. The students allegedly removed asbestos floor tiles and insulation from pipes inside the old military building, creating an airborne cloud of asbestos fibers they may have inhaled.
At the time, Bowman was Firm Build's board president and coordinator of the Workplace Learning Academy, created at Valley Community School to teach trade skills for at-risk students. Buendia was the nonprofit's project manager, while Cuellar was an administrative manager, according to D.A. investigators.
Morse said the investigation points to "an appalling lack of oversight" and "sweeping negligence" at the highest levels of the Merced County Office of Education, in terms of its relationship with Firm Build and the office's responsibility to students under their care.
Asked to elaborate about the lack of oversight and those involved other than the defendants, Morse said he couldn't comment further because of the ongoing investigation. "There is ample information that the safeguards that should have been in place, or were in place to protect these students, were either ignored or marginalized."
Nathan Quevedo, spokesman for the Merced County Office of Education, said his office has "cooperated with all requests from the district attorney's office."
Quevedo also said an outside investigator, Sacramento attorney Donna Matties, conducted her own six-week investigation into the asbestos allegations. "MCOE hired an outside investigator to ensure the integrity of the investigation and remove any perception of a conflict of interest or bias," Quevedo said.
Quevedo said her report is confidential because it's a personnel matter, but added, "We cannot substantiate the allegations that students who worked at the (Automotive Training Center) were exposed to asbestos."
Bowman is employed as a math and algebra instructor at Valley Community School in Los Banos, Quevedo said.
Defense attorneys in the case say their clients maintain their innocence. Ralph Temple, Bowman's attorney, said his client was a volunteer who was asked to serve on Firm Build's board. "He never was paid a dime," Temple said. "He never got any money out of Firm Build whatsoever."
Temple said his client, as a schoolteacher, would never "harm anybody" or expose students to asbestos. Temple added his client was only an intermediary between MCOE and Firm Build, adding that he's an educator, not an expert in contracting or construction. "If there was a problem (with asbestos), the people who were qualified to take care of it were supposed to do that," Temple said.
Kirk McAllister, Buendia's attorney, said he believes Morse's office chose to pursue the case in front of a grand jury because of the procedural advantages allowed by the prosecution. Unlike a preliminary hearing, defense attorneys cannot cross-examine witnesses or ask questions.
Grand jury hearings, unlike preliminary hearings, are also closed to defense attorneys and the public. "This is a regurgitation of the charges that Mr. Buendia has been fighting for the last two years," McAllister said. "If Mr. Wall's evidence was so overwhelming, why will he only show it behind the closed doors of a grand jury, where everything looks overwhelming in the eyes of a prosecutor, instead of testing it in court as we've been trying to do at a preliminary hearing?"
McAllister said the defense has tried getting the case more than once to a preliminary hearing. "Each time we did, there was some roadblock thrown in front of us by the district attorney, the last being them stepping in front of that open courtroom process by hiding behind the closed doors of the grand jury."
Cuellar's attorney, Douglas Foster, did not return calls placed to his office.
Firm Build was launched in 1998 as a program of the Merced County Housing Authority to modernize its stock of public housing while giving residents marketable skills. The nonprofit contracted with MCOE to provide instructors to teach at-risk students in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP).
MCOE signed a lease for the 2245 Jetstream Drive building in June 2005, with the intent to use vocational students to remodel the facility into an automotive teaching center. The documents revealed that asbestos, lead-based paint, black mold and groundwater contamination were present at the site.
The lease was negotiated by Bowman and his assistant Jack Weaver, who is now deceased, over the course of 18 months, according to D.A.'s office investigators. Firm Build's leaders allegedly lied to its board, the county and state regulators about the nature of the renovation. Firm Build's application for a county building permit listed minimal work, such as painting walls and installing a garage door. Still, D.A. investigators say teens soon started removing the carcinogenic material from the building.
In addition to the state charges, all three defendants face federal charges for allegedly submitting false statements to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, several violations of the Clean Air Act and knowingly endangering others by releasing asbestos into the air.
Firm Build went bankrupt in mid-2007, leaving bills and loans unpaid with the Housing Authority and subcontractors. That prompted a District Attorney's Office financial investigation that lasted 15 months and culminated in the defendants' arrests on several charges, including embezzlement, diversion of construction funds and grand theft.
In November 2009, the District Attorney's Office launched its investigation into the asbestos allegations after receiving a witness tip from an electrician.
If convicted on the federal charges, the trio faces 15 years in prison. If convicted on the state charges, they face around 30 years in prison.
All three defendants remain free on bail. Their next hearing in Merced County Superior Court is scheduled for Dec. 10.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/11/24/1666434/grand-jury-indicts-3-leaders-of.html
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Victorville corruption probes continue
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/14/2010 04:52:38 PM PST
Updated: 11/14/2010 05:02:38 PM PST
VICTORVILLE - Federal and local investigators continue to request stacks of documents from the city as part of ongoing probes into bond sales and financial records.
Requests for information have become so intensive that three full-time workers are dedicated to processing them, said Councilman Ryan McEachron.
"It's more or less an ongoing investigation and no outcomes at this point have been shared with city staff," McEachron said. "I'm not sure how much longer this will go or how long it will take them to come out with any kind of a report."
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched its investigation in August, directing city employees to stop deleting e-mails or throw away paper records, including document drafts and Post-it notes, said city spokeswoman Yvonne Hester.
The SEC has declined to comment on the matter. McEachron says the agency is focused on bond sales that took place between 2005 and 2008.
The city has about $464 million in outstanding bond debt, with all but $83 million of it falling under the Redevelopment Agency, said Hester.
The $83 million city bond funded the failed Foxborough power plant. The agency's debt was issued to pay for infrastructure improvements to roads, sewers and hangars at Southern California Logistic Airport, Hester said.
In April 2009, the San Bernardino County Grand Jury began investigating handshake agreements allegedly made between former City Manager Jon B. Roberts and developers without council approval, McEachron said. Roberts is now city manager in Steamboat Springs, Co.
When last year's Grand Jury disbanded in June, a special Grand Jury panel was formed to pick up where the previous one left off.
For legal reasons, McEachron said he couldn't comment on specific deals, but generally speaking, Roberts allowed certain developers to forgo paying the cost of infrastructure improvements they're usually required to pay for, such as traffic signals or street improvements.
Instead the city footed the bill, he said.
"I think that, without a doubt, there is a focus of the Grand Jury into some of the things that were done while (Roberts) was in charge," McEachron said. "Whether or not it's him specifically or someone else, it's yet to be seen. We don't know if they're focusing on any one person or people."
When contacted by phone Friday, Roberts only said, "I'm not familiar with what (McEachron's) referring to."
McEachron said he found it odd Roberts shifted payroll responsibilities from its typical place in the Finance Department to the Information Technology Department. The councilman also said he disagreed with a decision made by the council prior to his 2008 election that increased the amount of money Roberts could spend - $25,000 to $125,000 - without council approval.
In response to increasing allegations of corruption from residents, McEachron in December asked the council to commission a forensic audit of the city's finances to root out possible malfeasance.
The council voted 4-1, with Councilman Mike Rothschild dissenting, to go forward with it. The council lobbied the county's Board of Supervisors to pay $195,000 to hire an outside auditor. The audit has been under way for over six months with the Grand Jury providing oversight, schild said.
Although it's possible some bad management decisions were made under Roberts, said Rothschild, he doesn't believe any illegal activity occurred.
Aside from county taxpayer money used to pay for the audit, complying with the volume of information requests related to it and the SEC investigation have racked up $120,000 in internal costs to the city, Rothschild said.
"It's a complete waste of taxpayer money. We can't afford to pay $120,000, but we still have to pay it," Rothschild said. "It's an enormous pressure and I haven't got a clue as to what they're looking for. There's nothing there to the best of my knowledge. If there was, I'd be one of the first to jump in and point fingers."
McEachron said he hopes the audit will provide the city with answers.
"If someone did do something wrong, then they should be held accountable for it," McEachron said.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_16612886?nclick_check=1
Posted: 11/14/2010 04:52:38 PM PST
Updated: 11/14/2010 05:02:38 PM PST
VICTORVILLE - Federal and local investigators continue to request stacks of documents from the city as part of ongoing probes into bond sales and financial records.
Requests for information have become so intensive that three full-time workers are dedicated to processing them, said Councilman Ryan McEachron.
"It's more or less an ongoing investigation and no outcomes at this point have been shared with city staff," McEachron said. "I'm not sure how much longer this will go or how long it will take them to come out with any kind of a report."
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched its investigation in August, directing city employees to stop deleting e-mails or throw away paper records, including document drafts and Post-it notes, said city spokeswoman Yvonne Hester.
The SEC has declined to comment on the matter. McEachron says the agency is focused on bond sales that took place between 2005 and 2008.
The city has about $464 million in outstanding bond debt, with all but $83 million of it falling under the Redevelopment Agency, said Hester.
The $83 million city bond funded the failed Foxborough power plant. The agency's debt was issued to pay for infrastructure improvements to roads, sewers and hangars at Southern California Logistic Airport, Hester said.
In April 2009, the San Bernardino County Grand Jury began investigating handshake agreements allegedly made between former City Manager Jon B. Roberts and developers without council approval, McEachron said. Roberts is now city manager in Steamboat Springs, Co.
When last year's Grand Jury disbanded in June, a special Grand Jury panel was formed to pick up where the previous one left off.
For legal reasons, McEachron said he couldn't comment on specific deals, but generally speaking, Roberts allowed certain developers to forgo paying the cost of infrastructure improvements they're usually required to pay for, such as traffic signals or street improvements.
Instead the city footed the bill, he said.
"I think that, without a doubt, there is a focus of the Grand Jury into some of the things that were done while (Roberts) was in charge," McEachron said. "Whether or not it's him specifically or someone else, it's yet to be seen. We don't know if they're focusing on any one person or people."
When contacted by phone Friday, Roberts only said, "I'm not familiar with what (McEachron's) referring to."
McEachron said he found it odd Roberts shifted payroll responsibilities from its typical place in the Finance Department to the Information Technology Department. The councilman also said he disagreed with a decision made by the council prior to his 2008 election that increased the amount of money Roberts could spend - $25,000 to $125,000 - without council approval.
In response to increasing allegations of corruption from residents, McEachron in December asked the council to commission a forensic audit of the city's finances to root out possible malfeasance.
The council voted 4-1, with Councilman Mike Rothschild dissenting, to go forward with it. The council lobbied the county's Board of Supervisors to pay $195,000 to hire an outside auditor. The audit has been under way for over six months with the Grand Jury providing oversight, schild said.
Although it's possible some bad management decisions were made under Roberts, said Rothschild, he doesn't believe any illegal activity occurred.
Aside from county taxpayer money used to pay for the audit, complying with the volume of information requests related to it and the SEC investigation have racked up $120,000 in internal costs to the city, Rothschild said.
"It's a complete waste of taxpayer money. We can't afford to pay $120,000, but we still have to pay it," Rothschild said. "It's an enormous pressure and I haven't got a clue as to what they're looking for. There's nothing there to the best of my knowledge. If there was, I'd be one of the first to jump in and point fingers."
McEachron said he hopes the audit will provide the city with answers.
"If someone did do something wrong, then they should be held accountable for it," McEachron said.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_16612886?nclick_check=1
Saturday, November 20, 2010
San Diego Superior court seeking 19 new members for grand jury
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The San Diego Superior Court is looking for 19 area residents to serve on the 2011-12 grand jury, it was announced Friday.
The panel investigates citizen complaints and serves as a watchdog over public agencies.
Prospective grand jurors must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen who has lived in San Diego County for at least one year and be proficient in the English language. Candidates will go through a criminal background check.
Grand jurors will work six hours per day, four days per week, from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. They will receive a small daily stipend, and the county will pay for mileage and parking.
Applications are available in the business office of all courthouses, by telephone at (619) 450-7272, or download the form at sdcourt.ca.gov or sdcounty.ca.gov/grandjury.
The applications are due by Jan. 14.
http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13539580
The panel investigates citizen complaints and serves as a watchdog over public agencies.
Prospective grand jurors must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen who has lived in San Diego County for at least one year and be proficient in the English language. Candidates will go through a criminal background check.
Grand jurors will work six hours per day, four days per week, from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. They will receive a small daily stipend, and the county will pay for mileage and parking.
Applications are available in the business office of all courthouses, by telephone at (619) 450-7272, or download the form at sdcourt.ca.gov or sdcounty.ca.gov/grandjury.
The applications are due by Jan. 14.
http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13539580
Friday, November 19, 2010
Grand jury subpoenas Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit
Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit will testify before the Riverside County grand jury on Friday, but has not been told what they're investigating. Benoit will be questioned at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Riverside.
The subpoena, which arrived last week, did not provide insight into the grand jury's probe.
But Benoit's chief of staff, Michelle DeArmond, said the supervisor “has no reason to believe he's a target for anything.”
“There's nothing that gives him any concern,” DeArmond said Wednesday. “He's simply responding to the subpoena.”
Riverside County district attorney spokesman Michael Jeandron said it was office policy not to confirm or deny such questioning because of the “confidential nature of any ongoing grand jury.”
It was not clear Wednesday evening whether Benoit was appearing before a civil or a criminal grand jury.
Benoit represents the Riverside County's fourth district, which includes most of the Coachella Valley.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20101118/NEWS01/11180321/Grand+jury+subpoenas+Riverside+County+Supervisor+John+Benoit
The subpoena, which arrived last week, did not provide insight into the grand jury's probe.
But Benoit's chief of staff, Michelle DeArmond, said the supervisor “has no reason to believe he's a target for anything.”
“There's nothing that gives him any concern,” DeArmond said Wednesday. “He's simply responding to the subpoena.”
Riverside County district attorney spokesman Michael Jeandron said it was office policy not to confirm or deny such questioning because of the “confidential nature of any ongoing grand jury.”
It was not clear Wednesday evening whether Benoit was appearing before a civil or a criminal grand jury.
Benoit represents the Riverside County's fourth district, which includes most of the Coachella Valley.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20101118/NEWS01/11180321/Grand+jury+subpoenas+Riverside+County+Supervisor+John+Benoit
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