I really need to stop reading former San Bernardino County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer’s Claim Against the County. Every time I do, I find something new. Like tonight I came across the email from Postmus to Biane calling Biane a POS. That was too funny.
Something else was pointed out to me today that got me reading the thing again. That was some more of the questions Mark Uffer suggested the Grand Jury ask Mark Kirk. Continue reading
There was a time when I would have texted or called Second District Chief of Staff Matt Brown to ask him about the accusations being made before printing them, but since Jessica Austin has shared with me what Matt has said behind my back, I am no longer going to give him the benefit of the doubt as I did his wife during the Land Use debacle. So Matt, I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. I actually hope they are not true, but it’s time for an answer. Continue reading
Has anyone read pages 129-137 of the Mark Uffer Claim Against the County? They can be found here: Uffer-Document
Pages 129-137 consist of the questions Mark Uffer proposed the Grand Jury ask others, including Supervisor Paul Biane and Chief of Staff Mark Kirk. Those questions are quite revealing. The question is, “Are they legitimate?” Continue reading
Seems that the county can no longer afford subsidizing families while taking away health insurance from employees. We hear that the county has proposed returning to flexible benefits dollars in lieu of the medical premium subsidy, which was Mark Uffer’s and Bob “Chicken Man” Blough’s brilliant plan to conquer and divide the membership so they would have more control. Continue reading
We are hearing that the newspapers are calling San Bernardino County’s chief spokesperson, David Wert, to ask about reports on inlandpolitics.com and iepolitics.com that the budget shortfall is much worse than the $90 miilion currently being reported. And David, who doesn’t seem to learn that he needs to rid himself of the reputation of being Uffer’s spin doctor extraordinaire if he hopes to have any chance of surviving the Fifth Floor massacre we are all expecting, is telling the newspapers that we are wrong once again.
The information, of course, originated with Jim and I simply piggybacked onto what he had written. And I am comfortable in doing so because I know he knows what he is talking about.
Remember some months ago when the county was claiming something like a $20 million deficit and we were claiming a $90 million deficit? So who was right and who was wrong?
As the Uffer situation unfolds, we are hearing of mismanagement all over the county. The most recent has to do with the General Fund reserves which have been wiped out by the latest revelation. It seems Uffer hid the fact that leave accrual cash outs were being hidden and not funded. Continue reading
One thing is certain. San Bernardino County’s budget problem is far more severe than anyone ever imagined. Especially the employee unions.
Looking at their websites and the information being provided to their members it appears everyone is about to be blind-sided by more bad news.
The county is clearly going to want the unions to cancel all negotiated wage and benefit increases. Yes, I said “cancel” not “defer”. A cancellation would have delayed any significant layoffs. Not anymore. Expect both. Continue reading
Here we are in April and there still has been no budget workshop. Has no one noticed that July 3 is not far off (or is the beginning of the new fiscal year June 26?) Either way, umm . . . folks on the Fifth Floor, plans to overcome the horrific budget deficit need to be made kinda soon. What are you waiting for? Oh, you’re discovering new problems each and every day left behind by Mark Uffer and his band of magic makers? Well, it’s time to come clean.
We hear that each passing day brings to light new problems within the county that had been covered up by former county administrative officer Mark Uffer, current assistant county administrative officer Dean Arabatzis, and county counsel Ruth Stringer. We know that Stringer will be gone shortly and thought has it that Arabatzis is on his way out as well.
Uffer was fired for no cause and therefore given his severance package. Now that all the malfeasance is surfacing and with Uffer’s ridiculous claim against the county, wouldn’t it be funny if the Board of Supervisors decided to change his termination from “without cause” to “for cause” and end his severance package, maybe even suing for what they have already paid him.
Of course he would try to claim retaliation. But as the feds get more and more involved in San Bernardino County workings, showing one case of malfeasance after another, the Board of Supervisors is going to have egg on its face if it continues paying Uffer for his misdeeds. You can’t be such an ass and not expect it to catch up with you sometime Mark.
Received a letter from the Fair Political Practices Commission today that either I didn’t read closely enough or I didn’t word my complaint clearly enough, but the bottom line is that the complaints will be resubmitted this week. Not sure what I did as the letter didn’t seem to address the complaint. Anyway, there is no way they are getting off that easy.
And I’m not being facetious, sarcastic or anything but serious. Did you all read the very last page of former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer’s 160-page diatribe alleging that he has been a whistleblower all along and he was fired for all his good deeds? It was my email to Mark Uffer, calling him a liar. And I did it on county time and on a county computer. I’m so proud of myself! Continue reading
Since you won’t open my emails and text messages . . .
I had a sleepless night Saturday. After going through Mark Uffer’s 160 pages of baloney, there were some things I couldn’t get off my mind.
The “questions” that Uffer suggested for the Grand Jury about the blog explained a few things. I’m not clear if they actually asked you or anyone else those questions. Those are pretty bizarre questions to ask in a criminal investigation. Continue reading
Well now the long-awaited Uffer claim has hit the presses will all the fan fare one would expect.
The April fool’s day filing is only fitting.
Let’s get this straight. Mr. Uffer wants to be made whole until his claim/case is resolved, meaning he wants full pay and benefits to continue beyond his one year severance.
To download a PDF version of former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer’s highly entertaining claim, click here: Uffer Claim
Now that I have had a chance to read/skim through all 160 pages, all I can say is Mark Uffer must be more of a desperate little man than I ever realized. Mark, since I know you still read the blog, here a few thoughts for you to ponder:
Anyway, thanks for the good laugh today. Yesterday it was funny but after reading your supporting documents, it really is downright hysterical. You really have helped my blog hits once again, so thank you for that too.
As I was writing the articles today about Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and Mark Uffer, the thought that came to mind was how much of a bigger story the ARMC situation is than the Assessor’s Office scandal or even the Colonies settlement. It not even just bigger from the standpoint of corruption, but also from the standpoint of a scandal that really would resonate with voters.
If one were to ask the average voter on the street about the Assessor’s Office or Colonies, likely he or she would not even know what one is talking about. Voters are too busy to care about shenanigans in the Assessor’s Office and don’t care to take the time to learn about Colonies. Continue reading
If there is anyone on this Earth that has read about Mark Uffer’s claim against the county, here is a little more information for you. Mark is currently receiving his regular paycheck and will continue to do so for a period of 52 weeks from the time he was terminated. After that he will be eligible for his retirement. Those paychecks will drop to $130,000 a year. Darn it must be hard to live on that pittance. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel because he will be able to draw on his 401K as soon as he turns 59.5. So he will only have to live in poverty for a short period of time.
I am going to be writing several Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) pieces today and in the days to come and thought I would take a moment to make one clarification. I suspect, based on previous articles, that some readers are under the impression that I have an issue with Patrick Petre. I do not.
As my sources on the ARMC articles can tell you, I always ask about Patrick’s involvement in this big mess because I really hope that he has been nothing more than a pawn in this cover-up. When I worked at ARMC I spoke with Patrick a couple of times and really like him. Continue reading
Is anyone besides me laughing hysterically about this turn of events? I mean we sort of expected it but now that it finally hit we have to wonder what the heck he is thinking. Well I’m sure we know what he is thinking.
Mark Uffer is the most hated county employee in county history. When his termination was announced, there were reports that employees in some offices stood and cheered at the news. He stands no chance of finding another job so he is looking for a quick buck. Continue reading
iePolitics has learned from a well-placed West-End source that the February 10, 2010, incoherent spectacle produced by San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos and California Attorney General Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown, charging former Assessor Bill Postmus and former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin with multiple felonies, including bribery and embezzlement, may have had a much more far-reaching purpose. And that “purpose” has to do with one unnamed, but very identifiable, John Doe; John Doe No. 1, i.e., Jeff Burum, to be exact.
The underlying scheme of Ramos’ recent interest in “cleaning up corruption in San Bernardino County” is oft-discussed by political insiders. His crusade came about only after his power base took a major hit due to the defeat of political crony and powerbroker, San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor Dennis Hansberger, by dark horse candidate Neil Derry. Continue reading
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San Bernardino County currently sports one of the highest, if not the highest plea bargain rates in the state.
A not so flattering statistic to say the least.
Ramos
Over the last several years county supervisors have gave additional millions in budget funding to District Attorney Mike Ramos. The result. More plea bargains with criminal defendants.
Several months ago stories ran here and on iePolitics.com exposing substantial political contributions to Ramos by two attorneys who control the San Bernardino County criminal defense conflict panel. Continue reading
“Cautiously optimistic” and “nervous” are two of the phrases I have heard repeatedly about San Bernardino County’s new head honcho, County Administrative Officer Greg Devereaux. Even before assuming office, Devereaux has ended a decades-long policy of 9-80s for county management, a move that makes line staff very nervous as many depend on “flex time” to survive in these hard economic times. But it is also a sign that Devereaux is not going to be afraid to lead.
After six years of despot leadership by former County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer and his band of thugs, it is easy to understand why line staff are wary of our new leader. I’ve been asked my opinion repeatedly by everyone from the lowest level employee to managers to newspaper reporters. Here is my standard response:
Seeing Devereaux’s close, personal relationship with the Fourth District makes me nervous on a personal level, especially when considering what the Fourth District recently did to me. That being said, I have two friends who are long-term city of Ontario employees who have nothing but respect for Devereaux. They are rank-and-file and are allowed to work 9-80s. Ontario employees, most of whom are represented by San Bernardino County Public Employees Association, have the best contracts of any governmental agency in San Bernardino County.
From what I hear from those that know Devereaux, he is tough but also fair. I also hear he will not take the crap from county managers that Uffer not only tolerated, but encouraged. He will not play the games Uffer played and will not tolerate bad managers. Unlike Uffer, he is consistently described as a ‘professional.’ Continue reading
County Supervisor Paul Biane has broken his silence. Now his statements bear some analysis.
A leisure trip to West Virginia that occurred in September 2008 was reimbursed out of Biane’s campaign funds. Did the reimbursement occur in September 2008 or when the amended disclosure form was filed in March 2009, just 8 days before the arrest of Jim Erwin, former Chief of Staff to Supervisor Neil Derry?
Erwin was charged with ten counts of perjury and filing false documents related to a trip and gift he received in January 2007.
Erwin resigned from his job and was made to post $220,000 bail.
The bet is on March 2009.
The costs were also under reimbursed.
For almost a year the question has been asked repeatedly, “Why would San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos take on the likes of Jim Erwin?” It’s especially puzzling for several reasons.
First, Mike is a poltroon. He utilizes his paltry supply of testosterone to satisfy his overactive libido. None is left to be a man in any other way. He is emasculated. He is not capable of going to battle because he believes in the righteousness of an issue. To suggest he is attempting to “clean up corruption” is ludicrous, especially coming from one of the most corrupt district attorneys in the entire country.
Second, Mike and Jim were at least casual friends at one point and certainly political allies. As president of the Safety Employees Benefit Association (SEBA), Jim helped Mike and his political friends in their campaigns for elected office. A SEBA endorsement is substantial in this county and to potentially alienate such a powerful force could be political suicide. Continue reading
I can write about this since it was mentioned to me both during group and outside of group. One of the group members, who I had never met before last week and who is not a county employee, was out somewhere this past weekend. He happened to eavesdrop on a group of people who were sitting nearby. He heard them mention me by name and mention the blog. I can’t remember what all he heard now, but he told me that I have a huge support group out there. Continue reading
There is one especially nice thing about Jim and I having separate blogs and that is I can write about anything I want to write about without grief from Postmus, Stout, Erwin, Derry or Burum for writing about the “personal” stuff. This is one of those “personal” posts that makes those guys cringe but I don’t have to worry about it because they will never see it as they are busy with their own blog. I’ve been inundated with questions so I’m going to take a few minutes to explain all that has happened to bring about two separate blogs.
Back in October after I was laid off from work I had a bit of a meltdown. Under normal circumstances I would have taken the action with stride but 2009 was anything but a normal year for me. For the first time in a couple of decades, not having a county paycheck to rely upon was financially devastating for me. I have always had multiple sources of income including my businesses, savings earnings, rental income and second/third jobs. But 2009 was the year of financial hell and the layoff caught me off guard and unprepared. On top of that, not only did they lay me off, they also messed with my final paycheck, shorting me a lot of money. Thus the meltdown. Continue reading