Last month, we looked into how our two counties regulate political activities on the job for government employees. Inyo County prohibits it. Mono County does too, but not for elected officials. The Mono Supervisors may tighten up those rules when they consider a proposed ordinance at their meeting today.
This whole issue came up when citizens questioned the propriety of the Mono Sheriff and District Attorney gathering signatures for their petitions in lieu of filing fees at a County management meeting. At the time, County Counsel Marshall Rudolph said there was a rule that prohibited rank and file employees and appointed officials from engaging in political activity on the job. He said the definition of employee did not cover elected officials.
Since that time, Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Johnston requested adding to County Code prohibitions for elected officials. County Counsel Rudolph has come up with a draft ordinance to accomplish that. He focuses on prohibiting political activity on County premises. Rudolph confirmed that this prohibition would apply to employees, appointed officials and elected officials. If the Board approves it today, the ordinance would take effect in 30 days.
On another item, the County Counsel’s Office will recommend that the Board reject a claim for damages filed by Attorney Allen Berrey for his client, Youssef Boulaalam. Mr. Berrey alleges that his client was “unconstitutionally and unlawfully seized, searched, arrested and jailed by two Mono County Sheriff’s officers – a sergeant and a deputy – in a way that made him feel as if he had been baited, hunted and trapped for no legitimate reason.”
The claim further alleges violations of civil rights, fabrication of evidence, false arrest and imprisonment and violation of Fourth and Second Amendment rights. Mr. Boulaalam was passing through the Bridgeport area as part of a longer trip. Officers said they stopped the man because they thought he was under the influence. The claim alleges the officers did not investigate the possibility of under the influence and only wanted to search the vehicle. The District Attorney did file a charge of misdemeanor carrying of a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
The Board also expected to spend a couple of hours today on the Mid-Year Budget review.
Vote Obenberger out!!!
How magnificently ironic it is that, with an election on the horizon, these two top County cops take the time and make a special effort to show us their true character. To most people, a county official campaigning for county office in a county setting on county time to county… Read more »
I would like to say thank you to Supervisor Johnston for making sure that the “loophole” that Obenberger and Kendall are using to promote themselves while they are working gets closed. There is no reason they should be allowed to do that while they are being paid by the taxpayers… Read more »
If a subordinate were using work time for any reason other than furthering Ralphy’s or Weber’s agenda, he would either be subjected to “the chair” OR, he would cease to BE a subordinate, seeing how it “wouldn’t fit in to the big picture”.
2 cents:
Whoever came up with the new main street 4 lane to 2 lane back in diagonal parking plan in Bridgeport aught to be seized, searched, arrested and jailed and then given a free bus ride out of town. .=
“They” want to do the same thing here in Mammoth because it “…frees up more room for developers…” They actually say that in the draft proposal.
It cracks me up that people are still making derogatory comments about this. It has slowed down traffic, made crossing the street much safer, and increased parking. Total success as far as i am concerned.
Lancaster did the same thing to their old down town and I won’t go there any more. Driving to any of the businesses is more work than it’s worth. You either have to crawl along in 5 mph traffic on Lancaster Bl. or waste time coming in through residential side… Read more »
DT: exactly so. Seems like the designers are more concerned about making pretty and persuasive brochures to sell their “vision” than to make a human livable and human useable space. After all, it’s a lot easier to sit in your office and image how great your idea is than to… Read more »
I agree. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot. Heaven forbid you walk anywhere.
Though admittedly, the back-in parking is definitely unusual.
Desert Tortoise…I can remember back in the late 60’s-early 70’s Lancaster Blvd. used to be the place….”cruising the boulevard”……then going to the A&W Root Beer on Ave. I……and if any of us got “lucky”(which rarely happened),onto the Jet Drive-Inn Theater….for $ 1.50 a car-load to watch 2 movies….now,from what I… Read more »
Eh, Lancaster Bl. is safe. It acutally has some nice businesses and restaurants now. But this fetish about people walking down a long boulevard shopping, I just don’t know where it comes from. I go to a store to buy specific things. I want to drive to the store, park,… Read more »
Two words regarding people walking down boulevards spending money, DT: Tourist dollars.
Yeah,but I don’t see Lancaster,California as a high-end vacation spot for tourists…..unless it’s changed a LOT in the past 6 years.
I don’t know Desert. I’ve seen old pictures of Bishop with people walking and parking all over the place back in the early 70’s. Now, I haven’t seen one person walk into many of main streets businesses in many years. Our teenagers need to get jobs some where local.
It’s a total Flop as I am concerned 🙂
I checked this post again to see what people thought of my above comment and i am really surprised to see such an overwhelming shutdown. I understand the negative impression of something so unconventional, but the project has accomplished its goals, which i think is a pretty good measure of… Read more »
But the speed limit in Bridgeport was always 30mph wasn’t it? And how about a stoplight? Here in Mammoth we face the same problem. People driving really fast in 35mph zone. Stoplights are needed in some places like the crossing to the Post Office that EVERYBODY goes to. CalTrans hasn’t… Read more »
I love the experiment in paint characterization. What a great way for Mammoth to work on their downtown plan. Instead of spending zillions to move buildings and model the corridor to resemble every other redevelopment scheme on earth, the large parking lots in front of the buildings could be re-purposed… Read more »