San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt today presented a $20,000 check to the Boys and Girls Club of the Victor Valley to be used for anti-gang programs in Adelanto. … (Continued below) …

… From the San Bernardino County Sun, ‘Inside Southern California’, By Joe Nelson, February 11, 2009 … (Continued below) …

… “The war on gangs will continue despite budget shortages,” Mitzelfelt said in a news release.  “As our economy worsens, increases in crime and gang activity usually follow.  We can’t afford to slow down our gang intervention efforts – these funds will ensure they continue.”

The funds will be used to implement two youth programs called S.M.A.R.T. Moves (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) and Triple Play.

S.M.A.R.T. Moves addresses problems such as gang recruitment, drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity, while Triple Play teaches young people about the benefits of healthy habits, such as eating right and being physically active, while also equipping young people with skills to adopt healthier lifestyles at the Boys and Girls Club and at home.

Mitzelfelt presented the check during the Adelanto Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Maverick’s Stadium. It was the latest development in a multi-million-dollar effort throughout the Victor Valley to provide programs and services designed to give young people productive and healthful alternatives to gangs, drugs and other aberrant activity.

Mitzelfelt has secured more than $5 million for youth intervention programs over the past two years.

joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com

Link to online article: http://www.insidesocal.com/behind_the_story/2009/02/mitzelfelt-awards-gang-suppres.html

Happy Presidents Day!  Brad’s latest commentary, ‘A Chance to Change the Culture in Sacramento’, examines the “cultural” underpinnings of California’s budgetary dysfunction and how continued Republican opposition to taxes could force fundamental change. Read more of this blog here: http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=479. (Copyright 2009 – Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, 12127 Mall Blvd., Suite A, Victorville, CA 92392 – www.joinbrad.com) … ARTICLES … Brad’s Comments on Resignation of Assessor Bill Postmus … ‘County must patch up $140 million budget gap’ … ‘Officials present IE recovery plan in Washington, D.C.’ … ‘County boosts disaster supplies for High Desert’.

MEETINGS: Tuesday, 9 a.m., Measure “I” Strategic Plan Workshop, San Bernardino. There will be no regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors this week. The Board will hold special meetings in Sacramento as part of its annual legislative briefings Wednesday and Thursday. Friday, 9 a.m., SANBAG Mountain-Desert Committee, Apple Valley Town Hall.

Article URLs:

Brad’s Blog: A Chance to Change the Culture in Sacramento – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=479

Brad’s Blog: Comments on the Resignation of Assessor Bill Postmus – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=458

Daily Press: ‘County must patch up $140 million budget gap’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=481

RDF: ‘Officials present IE recovery plan in Washington, D.C.’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=483

Daily Press: ‘County boosts disaster supplies for High Desert’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=486

Note: This article is also posted on the FlashReport.org website here: This and all of Brad’s FlashReport.org posts can be found here.  The following URL leads to my latest official statement on this topic, at the end of which are links to all of my previous official statements on this topic: http://www.sbcounty.gov/Mitzelfelt/newsroom/ViewPressRelease.aspx?DocID=380.

By Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, San Bernardino County

Friday at noon, San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus officially resigned and vacated his elected office.

It is a significant milestone, if not likely the end of a once-promising political career.

Some of you may have been curious as to why I have been silent on the ongoing controversies involving Bill as well as his indicted former top assistant, Adam Aleman.  This is only fair considering the fact that Bill and I worked together for many years before he moved on to the Assessor’s Office.

Frankly, I should let you know that I haven’t talked to my old friend for quite some time, for a variety of good reasons.  One of these reasons was the fact that the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is the only board in the state with the authority to remove a county elected official.  It involves a quasi-judicial process, which required me to maintain a significant degree of impartiality.

I have no idea where the ongoing investigations involving Mr. Postmus will now lead.  It is, however, a shame that the good things Bill accomplished in office will be necessarily overshadowed for some time by his actual, alleged and perceived misconduct.

Under our representative form of government, elected officials have profound and sacred responsibilities – to the oath we take to uphold our laws, to our democracy, and to our own integrity and service.
Our most important responsibility is to the taxpayer who has bestowed this great responsibility on us.  We have an obligation to work on the people’s behalf in an honest and forthright manner.

Bill Postmus ultimately failed in those responsibilities.

I am disappointed beyond words that Mr. Postmus has tarnished the reputation of San Bernardino County.  A series of irresponsible decisions, in his capacity as assessor and in his personal life, embarrassed himself and every resident who calls San Bernardino County home.

The actions of one man cast a cloud over all 18,000 County employees who come to work every day and take great pride and satisfaction in providing important and necessary services to the public.

I am relieved, though, that Bill decided to step down as county Assessor so that we may put this episode behind us and focus on the serious challenges we have before us.

Most of the recommendations made for the Assessor’s office last year by the Grand Jury, to ensure that senior staff is qualified and that political activities are absolutely segregated from the public’s work, have been implemented.  It is important to note that it has always been illegal to engage in political activities from within a government office, and the County has moved to improve the safeguards to prevent violations.

My colleagues and I were well on our way in the removal process as set forth in the County Charter when Bill finally decided to spare the taxpayers the expense of a full removal proceeding, litigation, and potentially a costly recall election.

It is also important to note that the District Attorney’s investigations of Mr. Postmus and his office continue.

One positive outcome of this is proof that the internal county system worked in uncovering inappropriate and possibly illegal activities by one of our elected officials.  It was our Grand Jury, our District Attorney and the Board of Supervisors who took action to clean our own house.

I am saddened that Bill apparently continues to wrestle with the drug addiction.  I hope that with the help of family, friends and faith he can overcome this problem and move on with his life.

I know from personal observation that the Assessor’s inappropriate behavior was of a recent nature and did not occur when he was county supervisor.

I am honored and humbled by the opportunity the voters have given me to serve and to help restore some of the lost trust in our county government.

And finally, I want you and the people of San Bernardino County to know that I will continue to be vigilant in demanding and enforcing the highest ethical and moral standards from all county elected officials and employees.

OAK HILLS – The High Desert is now equipped with five times as many emergency disaster trailers to assist if, and some say when, the region is rocked by a major earthquake.

First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt allocated $75,000 to purchase and stock four new Community Emergency Response Team trailers loaded with medical and disaster supplies. … (Continued below) …

… From the Daily Press, February 9, 2009 … ‘County boosts disaster supplies for High Desert;
Mitzelfelt rolls out four emergency trailers’ … From Staff Reports … (Continued below) …

… The trailers, which serve as training tools and resources for emergency situations, will be located in Oak Hills, Lucerne Valley, Harvard and Needles. Previously, the High Desert had only one CERT trailer in Apple Valley.

Mitzelfelt, who serves on the California Seismic Safety Commission, said that disaster preparedness is especially critical for the High Desert.

A massive earthquake on the San Andreas Fault through the Cajon Pass would leave the region isolated, he said.

Mitzelfelt rolled out the new trailers Friday at San Bernardino County Fire Station 40 in Oak Hills in front of several CERT volunteers, who train to assist government agencies in helping the public in the event of a major disaster.

For more information about CERT, call (909) 356-3998 and ask for the CERT coordinator.

Link to online article: http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/hills_10807___article.html/boosts_oak.html

In his latest commentary, ‘The Grand Canyon Between Us’, Brad examines how other states are taking advantage of California’s budgetary dysfunction and hostile business climate. Read more of this blog here: http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=446. (Copyright 2009 – Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, 12127 Mall Blvd., Suite A, Victorville, CA 92392 – www.joinbrad.com) … NEWS … ‘Four New Disaster Trailers will Improve High Desert Readiness’ … ‘Officials present Inland Empire recovery plan’ … ‘Statement Regarding Assessor’s Resignation Letter’ … ‘Phelan Library and Fire Station Construction Moves Forward’ … ‘Supervisor names new chief of staff’.

MEETINGS: Board of Supervisors Meeting, Tuesday, 10 a.m., County Government Center, San Bernardino.  ITEMS OF INTEREST: Mid-Year Budget – Receive a general fund financing budget report which includes projections for a 5-year period, recommendations for mid-year budget adjustments, and policy issues. Includes $10 million one-time financing for continuing work on the High Desert Government Center project; reduction plan and deletion of various positions; Amended Policy 2-09 to include revenue stabilization language for property tax and Prop. 172 revenue; Amended Policy 2-10 to include new reserve for Measure I projects; Adopt Policy 06-19 regarding classification of positions requiring CAO recommendation and 4/5 vote; Adopt Policy 06-20 regarding employment of positions, requiring CAO recommendation and 4/5 vote. Requests the Board provide direction for any policy or program funding adjustments that should be included in the 2009-10 proposed budget.  Full agenda available at: http://www.sbcounty.gov/sbco/cob/.  OTHER MEETINGS: Wednesday, SANBAG Administrative Committee Meeting, 9 a.m., San Bernardino.

Article URLs:

Brad’s latest blog: ‘The Grand Canyon Between Us’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=446 …

Best Syn: ‘Four New Disaster Trailers will Improve High Desert Readiness’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=453 …

Daily Press: ‘Officials present Inland Empire recovery plan’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=451 …

Statement Regarding Assessor’s Resignation Letter: http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=403 …

Best Syn: ‘Phelan Library and Fire Station Construction Moves Forward’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=449 …

P.E.: ‘Supervisor names new chief of staff’ – http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=444

Note: This article is also posted on the FlashReport.org website here.  This and all of Brad’s FlashReport.org posts can be found here.

By Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, San Bernardino County

First went my sister and her family. Then followed my mother. Then my grandmother.  Even one of the cities I represent is looking at possibly going there.

Where?  Arizona.

As I mentioned in my last blog, although San Bernardino County’s High Desert has a lot to offer in the way of incentives – from affordable land and labor to business-friendly local governments – the limits of our local discretion are illustrated by the economic struggles of the City of Needles, which I represent.

A small town located across the Colorado River from Arizona and Nevada, Needles was until recently studying the feasibility of seceding to one of the other two states because of California’s higher costs for gasoline, workers’ compensation insurance, auto insurance, corporate, sales and personal income taxes, and myriad overzealous laws and regulations, just to name a few.

“More power to ‘em,” I wrote, “although I’ll continue to do the best possible job for them as long as they’re in California.”

But now I’ve re-thought that statement because of a recent Sacramento Bee article (URL: http://www.sacbee.com/business/story/1589487.html) that helps bolster arguments against increased taxes, spending and regulation in Sacramento by detailing other states’ efforts to lure businesses away from California.  Case in point, the Arizona Department of Commerce’s new marketing plan to do an even better job at it.

The business climate in California is one of the worst in the nation.  Our credit rating is dead last among all states.  And our unemployment rate is the third worst in the country, behind Michigan and Rhode Island.  While states like Texas and Arizona cut business taxes and provide incentives for companies to do business, and our state loses around 100,000 jobs a month, legislative leaders and the Governor – by entertaining tax increases – keep the future business climate in California even more uncertain.  In a free market society, uncertainty is the second largest inhibitor of growth, next to tax increases.

If political leaders in California who are tinkering with the idea of raising taxes came out tomorrow and renounced their tax increase proposals, Interstates 80, 15, 40 and 10 would likely see far fewer outbound U-Haul trailers.  Unless that happens and more, I’m afraid, we will continuing to send retirement dollars to more and more residents of states that understand economics.

Since taxpayers and business owners have an alternative to the uncertainty surrounding the overall economy, not to mention the budget meltdown in Sacramento, many more will join those who have already left.  It’s a perfect opening for Arizona’s new marketing campaign.

None of this should affect how one feels about Arizona.  I think it’s a great state.  In fact, I once had bought into Diamondbacks season baseball tickets, and it’s clearly evident the Cardinals should have won the Super Bowl.  My hometown of L.A. doesn’t even have a pro football team, which is embarrassing for the second-largest city. (Although USC is a pretty good substitute.) If I cared about basketball I’d be darn proud of the Suns.

Arizona is a pretty good place to raise a family.  And they have a state government that allows one sheriff to put inmates in tents and work them in chain gangs wearing striped dungarees.  It’s also a place where illegal aliens are arrested and deported – a far cry from California, where we give illegals in-state tuition at our public universities and in some municipalities the cops are prohibited from even asking about immigration status (San Bernardino County excluded).

It’s common knowledge that in addition to businesses, many retirees (like my grandmother) have long known that their money goes a lot farther when not eaten up by high tax rates and costs of living.  In fact, Arizona has a lot to be proud of.  They even had a Presidential nominee last year.

So you might think that if they’d just knock off poaching our businesses, there’d be nothing to complain about with Arizona.  But when you really think about it, it’s our own fault.

I’m not saying California doesn’t have attributes that offset its competitive disadvantages.  But to apologists for the status quo, it’s fair to ask how many jobs is an acceptable number to lose to other states.  Shouldn’t we at least try to be competitive?

Here’s one way.  Just for starters, have the Legislature pass a “Border Competitiveness Demonstration Act” that would roll back state laws and regulations to match those of Arizona and apply it to border towns, like Needles.  Then see if job growth on our side of the border increases to match or exceed the other side.  (It wouldn’t be fair to do it with Nevada because they put casinos right on the border.)

I’m not predicting an outcome, but it would be interesting to see if the Legislature would be willing to entertain the question.  Just that would speak volumes.

Note: This article is also posted on the FlashReport.org website here.  This and all of Brad’s FlashReport.org posts can be found here.

By Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, San Bernardino County

This past Thursday I had the opportunity to welcome High Desert business owners to a “Business Survival” workshop.

I didn’t say, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help” – despite the fact that San Bernardino County and the Town of Apple Valley had assembled an impressive array of experts, services and information. It was because these folks know that, next to the national economy and their competitors, government is their biggest problem.

So in part because I have private-sector experience and an education in business and economic development, I explained, I’m one elected official who believes that government should simply get out of the way of business owner/employers as much as possible.

But as my audience was already painfully aware, in California, this has not been the prevailing view of state government for quite some time. And although San Bernardino County, especially the High Desert, has a lot to offer in the way of incentives – from affordable land and labor to business-friendly local governments – the limits of our local discretion are illustrated by the struggles of the City of Needles, which I represent.

A small town located across the Colorado River from Arizona and Nevada, Needles is studying the feasibility of seceding to one of the other two states because of California’s higher costs for gasoline, workers’ compensation insurance, auto insurance, corporate, sales and personal income taxes, and myriad overzealous laws and regulations, just to name a few. More power to ‘em, I say, although I’ll continue to do the best possible job for them as long as they’re in California.

Not unrelated, in my opinion, California’s current budget crisis is the result of a coming to a head of the historic struggle between those who believe that unlimited growth in government (through higher taxes) will bring a higher quality of life versus those who believe the private sector – businesses and individuals – are the producers of wealth in a society.

California, as the Federal government, has a long history of cause-and-effect tax policies that have either helped or hurt the state. 1992 was the first example of the power of taxes to destroy an economy. Following then-President Bush’s federal tax increases on the top rate from 28% to 31%, then-Governor Pete Wilson raised taxes in the amount of $7.3 billion. This resulted in one of the largest decreases in wealth in California’s history. This decrease included a drop in property values that didn’t recover until 1996. It was not until the stock market boom and the rise of Silicon Valley’s technology companies that the State recovered, albeit on a bubble. Today, the expected tax increase is more than double Wilson’s at $16 billion.

In 1998, Gov. Wilson gave back about $6 billion worth of surplus revenues to the people of California. For the next three years, California grew at an unprecedented rate and eventually became the only state to this date to reach $1 trillion in GDP growth.

Those two examples, both tax increases and surplus refunds (tax cuts), serve as effective models to what the future could hold for California.

The Bush tax cuts of 2001 reduced the top rate from 38% to 35% and the middle class saw rates reduced from 31% to 27%. But they are set to expire in 2010. This could coincide with a California tax increase on its top rate. Any guesses which model we can use – 1992 or 1998 – to determine the future?

With a double hit of taxes in a short time, coupled with one of the largest decreases of economic growth in California’s history, compounded by a historically weak real estate market, we may very well see a California recession that results in a mass amount of people (taxpayers) leaving the state with an economy in ruin for many years.

So back to Thursday’s business workshop…

I had the unhappy task of reminding the gathered business owners that the federal government, in its “stimulus” attempt, will be printing 1.2 trillion additional dollars, very few of which will likely result in new jobs. And this means that the final insult to the injury of this national downturn will likely be inflation like we haven’t seen since the Carter presidency.

However, despite all of this gloom and doom, I said, there is some hope. This hope comes from an actual review of history rather than from a good speechmaker short on specifics.

Consider that in 1989, at the beginning of what was then the worst period of economic decline since the Great Depression, most experts were predicting decades ahead of high interest rates, high inflation, and economic gloom.

Yet from 1991 to 2001, the world economy enjoyed the highest growth rates ever recorded, with low inflation and even lower interest rates. In the United States, household wealth tripled – growing from $13 trillion in 1991 to more than $40 trillion in 2001. Over the same ten years, the number of U.S. millionaire households doubled, jumping from 3.6 million in 1991 to 7.2 million in 2001.

One reason why now is a time of such great opportunity is because everything is on-sale, or for-sale. So for Heaven’s sake, although I’m not a licensed financial adviser, I think you should consider doing something now to protect yourself. Like investing in something at a low price before prices go up and before California and the federal government raise taxes through the roof.

That’s what a smart business owner would do.

In Brad’s latest commentary, ‘Economic Survival, Despite Government’, Brad warns business owners of proposed state and federal tax hikes and urges them to carefully invest now. … Read more of this blog here. … (Copyright 2009 – Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, 12127 Mall Blvd., Suite A, Victorville, CA 92392 – www.joinbrad.com) … IN THE NEWS … ‘Retiring Penrod gets send-off at groundbreaking ceremony’ ‘Board appoints Penrod’s successor’ … ‘County sues to ensure Camp Rock Road access’ … MEETINGS: Note – Supervisor Mitzelfelt will be in Washington, D.C., Wednesday and Thursday … Tuesday – Board of Supervisors Meeting, 10 a.m., County Government Center, San Bernardino.  ITEMS OF INTEREST: 8. Airports – Consider plans, specifications and advertisement for bids for fog seal of airfield pavements at the Barstow/Daggett, Needles and Twentynine Palms Airports. 10. Fire/OES – Grant Acceptance of $4,636,861 from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security to continue the County’s effort of implementing homeland security objectives and strategies and to respond to catastrophic events. Authorizes the purchase of software and vehicles, funded by the grant in the amount of $1,111,604 for County Fire, the Sheriff’s Department and Department of Public Health. 43. Public Health – Consider contract amendment with the Barstow Humane Society increasing the total contract amount by $305,000 from $631,120 to $936,120 and extending the term of the contract from October 14, 2008 through June 30, 2011, with options to extend for two additional three-year periods, for continued provision of animal shelter services in the unincorporated areas of the High Desert region. OTHER MEETINGS: Wednesday, SANBAG Board of Directors Meeting, 9:30 a.m., San Bernardino.

Article URLs (in case above links don’t work):

Brad’s latest blog: ‘Economic Survival, Despite Government’: http://joinbrad.com/blog/?cat=1

Desert Dispatch: ‘Retiring Penrod gets send-off at groundbreaking ceremony’- http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=436

Daily Press: ‘Board appoints Penrod’s successor’- http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=433

Desert Dispatch: ‘County sues to ensure Camp Rock Road access’- http://joinbrad.com/blog/?p=430

Recently Written

Headlines: September 5, 2010 Mitzelfelt MEMO: September 3, 2010 ‘Better Days Ahead’ ‘County may start Barstow-to-Victorville bus service’ Headlines: August 24, 2010 Victor Valley leaders support Prop. 23 Mother Road Needs Makeover ‘County prepares for move into Barstow Mall’ Relief on the way for Oak Hills High dust Headlines: August 2, 2010

Categories

Brad's Blog In The News This Week

Archives

September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007

Blogroll

Around The Capitol Fix Rss Feed - wordpress plugin that fix rss feed error “Error on line 2: The processing instruction target matching “[xX][mM][lL]” is not allowed.” while burn feed from feedburner.com Hugh Hewitt’s Blog Red County San Bernardino The FlashReport

Admin

Register Log in Wordpress XHTML

Search