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Editorials By Hardy Brown |
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Thursday, 15 March 2007 |
Brinker, Derry, Kelley
& McCammack "Wrapped Up, Tied up, Tangled up"...Ethics Gone
 Hardy L. Brown
It all started when they sought to run for a seat on the
council and took contributions from the police association and made promises to
do their bidding. They have been so "wrapped up" in their position that they
have even refuted Mayor Pat Morris about the language of Measure Z as to
whether some of the monies raised from sales tax should be spent on
Intervention and Prevention or all on Suppression. Now mind you Pat Morris
wrote the language in the measure plus went door to door informing the public
about the issue. In addition Morris was recently elected with 63.47% of the
vote in February of 2006. That was a landslide election for him and he staked
his leadership on the issue by presenting Measure Z to the voters. Now the police union did not support Pat
Morris but they did support members on the council who oppose intervention and
prevention programs.
Tobin Brinker, our newest council member, was given $10,000
during his campaign by the police association and according to Brinker's
statement at the city council meeting; he promised to direct all monies to
suppression. During the Operation Phoenix Report Brinker was so "tied up" with
his promise he could not even say the words Intervention or Prevention. Later
Brinker did say he was a supporter of Operation Phoenix but still has not moved
from his support of all of Measure Z monies going to anything other than
police.
Wendy McCammack, an outspoken critic of the mayor and
Operation Phoenix, is also tied up with contributions from the police
association to the tune of $1,500. Now McCammack is so concerned about crime,
but could not attend any meeting or public demonstration held in her ward after
the shooting death of Mynisha Crenshaw. Many civic minded citizens participated
like Al Karnig, President of Cal State University, San Bernardino, United Way
agency leaders, clergy of all faiths, Supervisor Josie Gonzales, Dr. Herb
Fischer, County Superintendent of Schools, Mayor Pat Morris, Steve Lambert,
editor of The Sun and Cheryl Brown of the Black Voice News...but no Wendy. Now I
must say that she is trying to untie herself by donating $500 to Operation
Phoenix.
Chas Kelley has tried to chastise the mayor at each meeting
by speaking to him and others as though they were children. He is wrapped up,
tied up and tangled up so tight with this "suppression only" plan with Neil
Derry that it hurts him. I wondered why and the answer became clear when I
noticed he received $2,500 dollars from the police association. Kelley is also tangled up with Neil Derry
from a $10,000 loan for his campaign. Yes, Kelley and Derry
are wrapped up, tied up, tangled up with each other. Kelley does not have the
charisma of Derry when it comes to raising money, which brings me to Derry.
Neil Derry's campaign statements remind me of a lobbyist or
political boss who raised and doled out money for votes. The police association
has doled out $5,500 to his campaign while the firefighters have given him
$15,000. Derry has also been the beneficiary
of generous contributions from Arrowhead Credit Union, Martin Matich, Edison,
Sempra and others in our community. Now I am sure these company contributions
were given to Derry for his campaign for the purpose of good government in San Bernardino. I know
the leaders of these companies and they believe in diversity, respect of our
young people and fairness, which Derry has not
demonstrated lately. When you look at how Derry
has doled out the dollars he raised to others, one has to wonder why he gave
$15,000 to County Assessor Bill Postmus for one of his campaigns. He supported
council candidates and ballot measures in Redlands.
Is it because Derry wants to run for the County
Board of Supervisors seat now held by
Dennis Hansberger and the district where most of the San Bernardino city police might live? It was
reported in the Sun Newspaper that over 90% of the San Bernardino police officers do not live in
the city. As I mentioned earlier Derry loaned
and later forgave the loan of $10,000 to Chas Kelley plus he disrespected over
35% of the city's population when he said people under 18 did not know
anything. Derry is wrapped up, tied up and
tangled up tighter than the others.
Now the NAACP Legal Redress Committee is seeking to help
these council members get unwrapped, untied, and untangled from this
misdirected council decision to spend all of Measure Z funds on Suppression. I
think another investigation needs to be sought by our City Attorney, District
Attorney, Attorney General or Fair Political Practice Commission regarding the UNETHICAL
actions of these council members' votes.
Now we are aware that
Mr. Penman has received thousands of dollars from the police union for his
campaign against Mayor Pat Morris, plus he has loaned money to Wendy McCammack.
The other thing I noticed is several of them used the same person as treasurer
for their campaign. Now even though these actions look legal, the picture that
has been painted does not match the general principles outlined by the Attorney
General.
Reverend Robinson said in the song he did not want to get
unwrapped, untied or untangled because it made him feel good, but based on the
actions of Tobin Brinker and Wendy McCammack's donations to Operation Phoenix
they are wanting to get unwrapped, untied and untangled. The question is, are
they in too deep because of the contributions of special interest groups? What
about the other employees in the city, who live here and pay taxes? Did the
council members' not take an oath to look out for their general welfare or do
they have to make contributions to their campaigns to receive consideration?
To hear Rev. Cleophus Robinson sing "Wrapped Up, Tied Up,
Tangled Up" visit www.blackvoicenews.com
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