SHADY DEALS AND PRACTICES (part 1)

ELSINORE MAGAZINE 2

May 1, 2005 San Diego Mayor, Dick Murphy, resigned on Monday April 25, 2005. The Mayor was criticized for failing to lead California's second largest city out of a Federal Investigation of San Diego City Hall. He was called, "ONE OF THE WORST MAYORS," by Time Magazine. Newly elected City Attorney, Michael Aguirre, reported to have found that the Mayor and City Council had been violating Federal Securities Laws by hiding KEY information about city finances. (This is an example of what a City Attorney SHOULD BE on top of!!!) On top of which a 1.4 Billion Dollar deficit in the pension funds was also found. A very similar cloud hangs over our city, Lake Elsinore. Information on city finances has long been a problem here at OUR City Hall. The "POLICY",that is not policy, of hiding, covering up and failing to give accurate information on the state of city finances and debts IS ILLEGAL!!! Those individuals who perpetuate this kind of POLICY will eventially have to take responsibility for their actions! After EM2 reviewed the Health and Wellness audit, it was determined that much of the information the auditors should have had access to was found to be hidden or omitted. Especially documentation concerning the use,(MISUSE), of CITY CREDIT CARDS issued to the CITY MANAGER and STAFF MEMBERS. The audit found improprieties in the following areas: 1.) Vacations 2.) Insurance Reimbursements 3.) Health and Wellness Reimbursements 4.) City Credit Card Reimbursements The audit also showed various city credit card receipts just ?MISSING? and NO stipulation as to whether or not the card vsage was for city business and or benefit. EM2 HIGHLY RECOMENDS that all offices of city government sit down and READ or STUDY, if necessary, the law on record reguarding CITY CREDIT CARD USE!!! One of the MOST EGREGIOUS CONCERNS about the audit is when Mayor Magee took it upon himself, IN CLOSED SESSION, to write the auditors requesting the following; a cover letter, HIGHLIGHTING A FALSE STATEMENT, that "NO EVIDENCE of ANY ILLEGAL ACTIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE". and that "CURRENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES will be effective when put into place". " EM2, "GEE, I WONDER WHAT PRACTICES AND POLICIES THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW??? After all, it would appear that the City Council and city employees do not adhere to their own POLICY on RECORD." This, after the Mayor HIMSELF circulated a memo of what he had found going on in several areas of city government, which he did absolutely nothing about . (THIS IS DOCUMENTED!!!!). The audit clearly reveals the ABUSE and MISUSE of PUBLIC FUNDS!!! EM2 WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREES with Mayor Magee on his actions! AND, as if that were not enough, the Mayor allowed Councilwoman, Genie Kelly, to read these FALSE STATEMENTS into public record at the March 22, 2005 council meeting as TRUTH! Then the Mayor sent the memo to all the council members for their input. NEVER bringing it to an OPEN MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL as REQUIRED under the Ralph M. Brown Act. So,..the citizens would NEVER KNOW that he WROTE TO THE AUDITORS!!!!! The Brown Act states clearly that, "There shall be NO CLOSED SESSION CITY BUSINESS OR COMMUNICATION WITH ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WITHOUT POSTING AN OPEN MEETING FIRST !!! Because, "A REPORT SHALL FOLLOW THE CLOSED SESSION AS TO THE OUTCOME OF THE CLOSED SESSION MEETING ! Who do they think they are fooling other than THEMSELVES! To add to these facts there is one more. As to the meeting on March 22, 2005, complaints are arising that comments made at this meeting have been entirely omitted from the minutes of the meeting! Mayor Magee PROMISED to fix the problem through phoning the complainant party. EM2 says, "What about letting the city clerk, do his or her job, and correct the error. Phoning the complainant party does not change the status of omitting statements from the minutes of a meeting." Could these actions and behavior be an example of how dictatorial countries get started??? A salute to the residents of Murrietta for thier efforts and taking a stand against major problems in THEIR city! If the public at large does nothing about problems in the cities, then the public will lose control to the MASSES OF CORRUPTION!!!!!!! BESIDES,We have the VISION and the ABILITY to PRE-EMPT POOR TECHNIQUE! End of part 1, SHADY DEALS AND PRACTICES. Log on for part 2 in the next issue.