Saturday, May 22, 2010

More on Jim Miller Trial

San Bernardino County Sentinel
Friday, May 21, 2010 Page 1
Miller Chooses
Trial Instead Of Plea Bargain
Former
Grand Terrace city councilman Jim Miller this week declined an offer from the district attorney’s office to reduce the felony conflict of interest charge lodged against him last year to a misdemeanor and instead indicated he will fight the matter at trial.
Miller was arrested and charged last July with a violation of Government Code Section 1090, based upon his votes on consent calendar items that ratified payments to his wife’s newspaper, the Grand Terrace City News, for legal notices the city requested be published therein.
Miller resigned from the council in March and the prosecutor handling the case, deputy district attorney John Goritz, offered to dismiss the 1090 violation, a felony, in return for Miller pleading guilty to a violation of Government Code Section 87100, which pertains to conflicts of interest but which denotes a lesser degree of seriousness and is thus recorded as a misdemeanor.
Miller was previously represented by Rick Ewaniszyk, who negotiated with Goritz the terms of the plea arrangement that Miller rejected. Instead, Miller was represented by attorney Jim Reiss.
"After careful consideration of the district attorney’s offer," Miller said, "I have elected to go to trial. I did not accept the plea bargain because to do so would be to admit to a crime I did not commit. And while it is tempting to merely accept a plea bargain to put this behind me and release my family from a burden they in no way should be shouldering, it is simply unacceptable to me to be labeled as a criminal when I know in my heart that that I had no such intent to break the law or disrespect my constituents.
I acknowledge that I voted on issues pertaining to the ratification after the fact of payments made to my wife’s newspaper, but I relied on the counsel of the city attorney in making those votes and would have abstained if I had been informed that there was any potential conflict.
I respect the legal work that Mr. Ewaniszyk, who was formerly representing me in this matter, provided. At this point, I am being represented by Mr. Reiss, whom I know to be a very aggressive litigator and who has assured me he will pursue an energetic defense on my behalf with regard to these charges.
I want the community to know that I took my role as an elected city official very seriously and I considered the trust the people of Grand Terrace placed in me to be a personal honor. I also want them to know that I did not abuse that trust and I am looking forward to taking this matter to trial so I can make a demonstration of that."
Miller’s pretrial hearing has been set for July 27, with jury selection scheduled to begin on Aug. 9.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Miller Trial Update: Plea Deal Rejected... & A Thought

Former Grand Terrace councilman rejects plea deal; trial likely
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/18/2010 07:03:14 PM PDT

Former Grand Terrace City Councilman Jim Miller rejected a plea offer from prosecutors today and may be headed to trial on allegations that he voted to send thousands of city dollars worth of advertising to his wife's newspaper.

"We had discussed an offer, and that was withdrawn (Tuesday)," said Deputy District Attorney John Goritz, who is prosecuting the case.
The news came during a court appearance Tuesday for Miller in San Bernardino Superior Court.

The offer that Miller rejected called for him to plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of conflict of interest, explained Goritz.

Generally, misdemeanors carry a maximum of one year in county jail, but Goritz said a sentence hadn't been discussed with Miller.

The defendant returns to court July 27 for a pretrial hearing, and a jury trial was set for Aug. 9. A trial readiness hearing was scheduled for Aug. 6.
Miller, who resigned in March from the Grand Terrace City Council, faces a felony count of conflict of interest, according to court records. He is accused of voting to send $18,000 worth of city advertising contracts to a newspaper owned by his wife, Margie, from October 2006 until August 2008.

Voters elected Miller to the council in 2004 and 2008.

Margie Miller bought the Grand Terrace City News, a weekly newspaper, in 2006. That is when former City Manager Tom Schwab began running legal ads with the newspaper, a practice he said he didn't realize was a problem.

"We are as much at fault as the Millers," Schwab said in July 2009, following Miller's arrest. "I believe the staff erred by placing advertising knowing the newspaper is owned by a council member's wife. The moment the city attorney said it wasn't appropriate, we stopped.

"Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_15113080?source=rss#ixzz0oRkYbUn8

Gramp's Thoughts On the Miller Case Going Forward

If the charges are that Jim Miller Voted to Approve Contracts to send advertising to his wife's paper he can not be found guilty.

The fact is that Jim Miller did not Approve or was he Party to the Contracts Negotiated to put ads in his wife's paper. He voted only to approve payments for services already rendered by his wife's paper that were negotiated by City Staff, namely Tom Schwab and Steve Berry.

On the other hand Bea Cortes sat in on many negotiations with Terra Loma Real Estate who was her professional benefactor if not employer while she was also serving on the City Council. She approved payments to Terra Loma for those services. Evidence of this has been provided to the DA's Office and she has not yet been charged for criminal activity.

Prior City Council Members had small businesses that did business with the city. This information has been provided to the DA's Office and as of yet no charges have been filed against any of these players.

The charges were brought against Jim Miller in retaliation for his not supporting the hire of Steve Berry as the City Manager. Assisting in pressing this matter to the DA's Office was Bea Cortes who had in the past indicated a "Special Relationship" with the DA Ramos.

So is Jim Miller guilty as charged... not if the press coverage has it right. He did not negotiate or approve the contracts for the services his wife's paper provided.

Should the others be charged, perhaps so but the DA's Office is making no statements on "Cases Under Investigation". Perhaps they need some one with a "Special Relationship" to motivate them into action if Justice is going to be Blind and Equally Applied.

I am glad the case is going to trial. Perhaps it will cause a disclosure of the open threats made to the Millers in relation to the news paper and the support or non support of Steve Berry.

Is it a crime for an Acting City Manager to effectively threaten and then cause the removal of an elected official because that official would not support his appointment to City Manager? Will Steve Berry be liable for pressing false charges and other crimes if Jim Miller is found Not Guilty?

The trial is a horrible event to the Millers as the past year has been. But, for the Citizens of Grand Terrace it may well be the final rolling up of an era of City Council Manipulations by Schwab and Berry. It is time to be critical of our leaders and evaluate them both at election time and while they serve.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Jim Miller Case Update

Today with a new Defence Attorney former City Council Member James Miller had a hearing in court. As his case slowly proceeds through the judicial system we await news on the other investigations the DA's Office reports are still "Pending" or "Under Investigation".

To date other than "We don't comment on open cases" the DA's Office has not communicated an action on the Citizens Chages and Evidence Provided against the City of Grand Terrace Mayor Marretta Ferre and City Council Member Bea Cortez for apparent Conflict of Interest Issues.

All it took to get Miller charge was a phone call from Steve Berry and Bea Cortes "Relationship" with the DA Ramos. Ramos has not been so speedy in dealing with a longer pattern of similar conduct that Miller is charged with in regards to Ferre, and much more serious charges in the case of Cortes. What does it take to get this DA to have equal justice for all? How far back can corruption charges go? Others may have things to answer for as well.

Grand Terrace should as Walt said vote them out. But in addition the DA's Office should be looking at each reported violation as having equal standing regardless of the "Relationships of the Individuals to the DA". Or it is time to replace the DA as well.

Community Driven GT Day is Back. Have Fun All

Grand Terrace Community Day

Please join us for Grand Terrace Community Day on Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Rollins Park (22735 De Berry St.).

This event will feature many activities for children of all ages, including games, prizes, and arts and crafts. Other activities include a watermelon eating contest, water balloon toss, and a tug-o-war contest. Additional contests and information will be released in the June edition of the Blue Mountain Outlook

Entertainment includes dance performances and a demonstration by the Fontana Police Department K-9 Unit. The event will also include the Art Show Exhibit featuring work by Grand Terrace elementary school students.

The Grand Terrace Lion’s Club is hosting their second annual car show on the middle field from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

2010 Event Sponsors
Feature Sponsor
TapouT
Blue Mountain Sponsors
San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry
Edison International - SCE

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Debt Finaced RDA paid back with State Allocated Funds

OBSCENE is the only word that comes to mind when thinking that the Grand Terrace City Council is making a money grab to increase the funds it gets from any source.

IT is not time to expand the demand for employees for maintaining parks and public spaces. It is not time to go into deeper debt.

IT is time to scale back to a bare minimum.

The best way to encourage development and investment is to remove the excessive cost of construction caused by Plans and Codes that have more to do with window dressing than public safety and the needs of a particular business.

Stop dressing up streets and parks while going into debt. Let businesses design for their purpose and locate in properly zoned areas. BUT, don't tell them what plants should be planted or what their building should look like. What works should be sufficient. IF and WHEN the economy turns around it may be reasonable for a business to add a more attractive frontage or the city to increase the number of parks to maintain. BUT not until there is an abundance of taxes in the State coffers should GT ask for a dime more for development that does not create a long term generation of economic value to the city.

It is time that all the city employees earning more than 60,000.00 per year have a dramatic pay cut. This should include the city manager on down. That is a pay cut, not a work reduction. They should work 40 hours a weak for Less Money. The rest of us are, if we are lucky enough to still have jobs.

None of the City Council Members should have gas allotments or medical insurance or retirement for their 8 hours a month gig.

No Travel should be approved for any reason.

Grand Terrace should be looking for ways to give the State more revenue, not get more from it. Look at what may happen to the schools because of State Cut Backs.

The spending has to stop. The reason the council and staff spend is so the staff can skim off administrative funds to pay this staff and more staff. IT is time this mary-go-round stops and the current Mayor, Cortes and Garcia leave the council. Walt S may have to go too if he doesn't see the light and start doing right. His saying that you can vote people off the council is a chicken mans statement. We can't un do a big fat debt this council is more than happy to acquire for future councils to deal with. NOW is the time he should start saying no, even if he is a minority vote. IF he is of a different mind. If he isn't then he should be replaced also, we can't afford him.

The city's sign is a perfect example of what should not be done. A private business could not have such a sign running 24/7 to sell their products. Just try and put up a yard sale sign when your family is losing their home. Try to have a business in GT see how much flack the Council/Planning and all give you unless you are part of their "Development Plan" or Select Developer, or a "Friend of the Council".

Dog park. Mow the field get some fence off of Craig's list and put in a double gate. People can bring their own water and take their doggie doo home with them to dispose of. IF and when there are sufficient contributions a restroom for humans would be a nice start. A doggie doo trash can would be also nice but it would have to be where the trash pickup can get it without a city employee's assistance. Mowing the field on a regular basis is all that is needed if the fence and gates are in place.

Not one additional city dime should be spent on the dog park. People who have dogs should contribute to its development over time little by little.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Have a Travel Plan... GT will be visited by Cal Trans..

Portion of Barton Road to close May 17
10:00 PM PDT on Monday, May 10, 2010

A two-block stretch of Barton Road in Grand Terrace and Colton will be closed for 3½ hours May 17 for a bridge inspection.

The road will be closed between La Crosse Avenue in Grand Terrace and Terrace Avenue in Colton from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. while state officials conduct a seismic inspection on a bridge.

Residents and business people will be allowed access, although delays may be expected, the city of Grand Terrace announced.
--Darrell R. Santschi

dsantschi@PE.com

Activity on Jacobsen/RDA Schwab's Square

There has been some reports of activity on the properties owned by the RDA and Jacobsen. Formerly known as the Town Center Development Area, or Schwab's Square.

City Workers were noted clearing weeds along the frontage of the former trailer/mobile home park on Michigan. This property was purchased by Jacobsen, and part of the deal or obligation was that he was to build a replacement park near Grand Terrace Road. Now there is a back hoe digging up the cement foundation where the trailer park use to be. Neighbors complain of dust abatement not being done as the work is proceeding. Of course this is also a noisy task.

Also noted around town are the many efforts to contain the weeds in empty fields, Edison Lots, and private property. In years past goats, sheep and horses were allowed to do these tasks for us. Most of the citizens prefer the mow it, over the disk it method of abatement as it spares us the dust. However, mowing and leaving the cuttings to dry in the field seems to be a half measure of abatement. Perhaps the city could find a farmer to plant and harvest these small pockets of workable land. 2 birds with one stone kind of a deal.

Weed abatement on the hill sides and slopes around town can only be done with the animal method. A city herd of goats kept as a 4H/Firehouse Joint Project may be a way to help both the children and the Firemen in our community.

The planning is moving forward for an additional park. This time it is located on the property along the canal and on Barton Road. The plan presented contains a very small parking lot off of LaPax and an Amphitheater and an additional Labyrinth. (The City has a Labyrinth at the Petta Park, and at the Catholic Sister's Facility,) I have not heard of traffic jams at either of these facilities. It also is to include a water feature, restroom and some green space and plants.

Here is the rub. IF there is a program at the Amphitheater there is insufficient parking. There is no play area for children, and there is no Snack Bar for the Amphitheater Events. There are no picnic tables or benches through out the park. Except when there is an event the park will be unused. There is no Stage Craft area in the design. A place for scenery and costumes is needed. In addition a place to keep music stands and chairs for musicians is also needed if this facility is intended for use and not just show.

This RDA project does not provide added income to the city and the only jobs it will bring will be more city maintenance crew members. In addition it will increase the cost of repair to facilities.

A park that has sufficient parking for the intended use is important. In addition the city should know that even ADULTS like to get on a swing set some times. Perhaps some one could come up with a design that would generate electricity as the adults provided the power. The city should also think about replacing the fruit and nut trees that were removed from the property and area in their selection of plantings.

In the end it looks like a low cost installation of a "Public" facility that would or could justify the use of Emanate Domain to force Joe Stringfield off of her property so the city could build a parking lot for the "Park". That "Public" parking lot then would be used by Stater Brother's Shoppers and Park Users.

The RDA should not be spending money on a project that increases City's Obligation to maintain it. The RDA should not be spending money that does not directly increase the Sales Tax Revenue to the City. The RDA should not be spending money on development that does not increase the economic pool of resources. Example, low cost housing brings those incomes to the city and thus increases the economic base of the community as low income people spend most of their income in the local area. Where as a park bench that has a minimal use or visitation from existing citizens brings no new economic input to the city.

Joe Stringfield will have every right to require the city to put in a full cement wall dividing the property for noise abatement, if events are going to be amplified.

Remember that the folks offering up this Planned Use have Retail and Commercial Interests as their Clients not the Citizens of Grand Terrace. So get informed.

Email GrandTerraceNews@yahoo.com and request a copy of the plans so far presented and it will be sent to you via email. Most readers have already gotten it in their inbox.

Thanks all for the information and files.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Harper Defends His "Opinion" Not Jim Miller

Jim Miller has hired a new attorney (Read Story Below). The City of Grand Terrace should hire a new City Attorney. While the case winds it way through the court system, the Current City Attorney John Harper continues to defend his services provided to the City and City Council. When he says that his advise was limited to the issue of the Miller's buying property and the News Paper in the City of Grand Terrace he admits that he knew of the concept that Margie Miller owned the News Paper.

City Attorney John Harper should have advised Jim Miller not to vote on the Consent Calendar the first time there was a bill paid to the paper. His failure to be prepared and on top of the potential problems of the City and Council indicate a level of ineptitude that should put his contract on the line. This is not the only issue he has been ill equipped to advise the City Council and City Management on. It may be time for the new City Manager to look at other legal service providers, that may be better prepared when they attend City Council Meetings, and not playing with his blackberry during the meetings.

Harper collects more fees every time he allowes the city to go down a path that leads to bad contracts, deals, and practices including sale of debt bonds.

Former Grand Terrace councilman's case continued
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, May 4, 2010

A court appearance by former Grand Terrace City Councilman Jim Miller has been postponed to May 18.
Miller, who faces a felony conflict of interest charge for voting to approve payments to his wife's newspaper, appeared briefly Tuesday morning before San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Bryan F. Foster.
The councilman, who resigned his seat in March, said outside court that he has hired a new lawyer, Jim Reiss of Rancho Cucamonga.
Miller voted to approve payments totaling about $18,000 to his wife, Margie's weekly newspaper for advertising from Oct. 26, 2006 to Aug. 12, 2008.
He said earlier that he was under the impression that his votes were legal because the newspaper is his wife's separate property and that he had consulted City Attorney John Harper when his wife was purchasing the paper four years ago.
Harper has said his opinion dealt with whether the councilman's wife could make a purchase within the city-wide redevelopment agency boundary, not with Jim Miller voting on payments to the newspaper.
--Darrell R. Santschi
dsantschi@PE.com
Yes you can go to the Food Connection with a Coupon and eat by yourself and still make a donation. Moms are not required. Remember guys, Breast Cancer also affects men. So if you can't take your mom or your wife or girl friend.... Be a Manly Man, and go yourself and take the coupon with you.

Take your Mom to Food Connection Sat. GO PINK

The Food Connection of Grand Terrace, is again going to Donate 30 Percent of all sales on Sat May 8th to the Tata Trotters IF you bring in a coupon and provide it when you pay your bill. You can find the coupon or flier in the Grand Terrace City News and or many of the local stores and shops.

So, take Mom out a day early, and help make a contribution to advance Breast Cancer Education, Prevention, Treatment and Research. The Tata Trotters are raising funds that will be donated to the Susan G Komen Fund. They will also participate in a 60 Mile - 3 day Walk for the Cure if they are able to meet their fund raising goal of $ 2300.00 for each team member.

The ladies in Pink will be having several opportunities to raise funds but hey, you know your going to take Mom out to eat. Start the Celebration of Mom's Day early ahead of the pack. Take her out on Sat May 8th and Bring your Tata Trotter's Coupon. Do something nice for your Mom/Wife and for Cancer Research at the same time. WIN WIN all around.

If you have a face book you can find a coupon on the Tata Trotter Grand Terrace page... Print it on a full sheet of paper... Invite mom / wife out for a Saturday Beginning of the Celebration of their importance will have a lasting memory and benefit to others as well.

Steve Berry Finds a Job with Political / Development Firm

Check out the website with Steve's picture.http://manncommunications.net/team.php

The Picture is of a much younger looking Steve Berry. His statements are also subject to a critical evaluation. Anyone who reads this should do their due diligence and ask for Specific Actions he attributes the accomplishments to. Ask him about the Commercial Kitchen or lack of a Commercial Kitchen in the Senior Center. Ask him about the Horse Trading that resulted in the furniture being removed from the Senior Center. Ask him what specific energy program or project actually was done more than on paper.

Ask Jim Miller and others how well Steve Berry gets along with people. Ask Steve Berry why he was under criminal investigation in Grand Terrace. Ask Steve Berry if he accounted for all of the funds available to him down to the last dime, in all contracts and events he "Planned".

Mann Communications is a public relations company specializing in land-use entitlement, political campaign strategy, and strategic communications and community outreach services for public agencies.

To think he will now be a hired advisor to local governments and politicians gads it should make you shake your head. Steve Berry has experience. However, it may not be a wise thing to associate one's self with that experience or the person who carries it as his resume.

Monday, May 03, 2010

Spending Begins.


The Grand Terrace / Barton Road Plan has a meeting TUESDAY.



Here it comes. The City is planning to spend money on fancy side walks on Barton Road. These sidewalks and plantings will require more labor to maintain. This while neighborhoods have no sidewalks and children do not have safe sidewalks to walk to school. This while pot holes and roads are neglected. WHY THIS FIRST... well because the people the city hired to do the Plan do not work for the Citizens of Grand Terrace. Here is the list of their Private Clients. Note the Citizens of Grand Terrace is not listed. Nore are Citizen Interests of any kind listed.




Your Interests are not the Interests of the City of GT
So who in City Hall has the connection to Hogle-Ireland. I wonder who their lawyer is. I don't know who their lawyer is however looking at their web site we can see who their clients are. Note to Citizens there are no listing that would make be believe this firm has the "General Public" as a client. This firms expertices is in helping City Managers push City Development Agency Development through the process. It is not a servant to the "General Public Interest".Private Sector ClientsHogle-Ireland, Inc. specializes in the development approval processes of governmental agencies for both the public and private sectors. Allen Matkins Allergan Alter Group American Air Filter Ameron Anthony Forest Products Arnel Development Automobile Club of So. California Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club Bandai America Birtcher Birtcher-Campbell Black & Decker Bolthouse Properties Boston Market Brinderson Development Building Industry Association California Pacific Development Castle & Cook California, Inc. Catellus Development Corporation CB Richard Ellis CEG Design & Engineering Group Chuck E. Cheese CitiMark, Inc. Collins Commercial Crown Realty Davis Partners LLC Development Management Resources Dewey Ballantine Douglas Anderson Eleven Western Builders Empire Commercial Real Estate Erin Madison Ltd. Essex Excel Scientific Exel Logistics Fidelity Development First City Properties First Management Group Flying J Front Porch Senior Housing Fullmer Construction G&K GAF Materials Gertmenian & Sons GFR Enterprises Gimel Properties GRAE Ventures Greenpark Development Greenpark Holdings Hanover Company Hill Pinckert Architects Hilton Group Holmes Group IDI Il Fornaio Restaurants Indomobil (America), Inc. Industrial League of Orange County Ingram Micro Insignia Intelisyn International Conf. of Building Officials Investment Development Services (IDS) Irvine Development Company Irvine First Korean Church Irvine Retail Properties Company Jackson Square Properties JM Development Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Kaiser Medical Group Kaiser Permanente Keller Equity Group Kilroy Realty Corporation Koll Properties Kunzik Construction Laminations Lee & Associates Legacy Partners Lennar Homes Lewis Company Lilburn Lowe's Lyon Co. Marriott Hotels McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enerson McDonald's Corporation Meer Capital Partners Mercury Insurance Mitsui Montebello Town Center Nelson-von der Ahe Development Newcastle Partners Newhall Land and Farming Company Newport Real Estate Services Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elliott Oakmont Industrial Group O'Donnell Group Olson Company Oltman's Operating Engineers Trust Fund OPUS West Pacific Bay Pacific Gulf Pacific Newport Properties Penninsula Real Estate Development PGP Partnership Proficiency Capital ProLogis Purkiss Rose RSI Ralphs Grocery Company, Inc Rancho Mission Viejo Co. RCI RFC RGA Architects Riverside Commercial Investors Rox Consulting Group Royal Rangers RREEF Rutan & Tucker Ryland Homes Sanderson-J. Ray Development Sares-Regis SDC Development Shea Properties Southridge Auto Space Center SPS Development Staples Steris, Inc. Strutt & Parker California Sunset Environmental Susie's Deals Taco Bell Corporation Tejon Ranch The Children's Place The Crab Cooker The Howard-Platz Group The Irvine Company The Naiman Company The Rados Companies The Wattson Company The William Lyon Company Tiger Woods Foundation Tokai Bank University City Center Partners Urban Land Institute URS Corp. USA Properties Valencia Company Van Waters & Rogers Verdemont Associates Victorville Motors Vilore Food Co. Ware & Malcomb Architects Warmington Homes Waste Management of No. America Weingarten Realty Investors Western State Univ. College of Law Western Syrup Winthrop Management Wohl Property Group Xebec
Posted by GrandPaTerrace at Friday, April 02, 2010 First Post