HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-007
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RESOLUTION NO. 2001-7
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCn.. OF THE
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO TO CENSURE THE CITY ATTORNEY
FOR UNAUTHORIZED AND INSENSITIVE CONDUCT
WHEREAS, with the exception of Native Americans who are indigenous
to this land, every person in the United States of America is an immigrant or has
ancestors who immigrated to this nation;
WHEREAS, the State of California in the 21st century exemplifies the
diverse immigrant make-up of America's population, with no racial or ethnic
group comprising a majority of the State's population;
WHEREAS, the citizens of the City of San Bernardino reflect
California's dynamic racial and cultural diversity;
WHEREAS, the City of San Bernardino ("City") is proud of its heritage
and future as a community that honors and supports the cultures of its citizens
through education, arts, and civic activities;
WHEREAS, the elected officials entrusted to guide and lead the City
should demonstrate by their acts and words an understanding of and respect for
the sensitivities of San Bernardino's diverse population;
WHEREAS, the City's elected officials should, above all, refrain from
conduct and words that demean or marginalize minority cultures, divide our
citizenry, and incite fear, prejudice, and hatred;
WHEREAS, on December 20, 2000, James F. Penman, City Attorney of
the City of San Bernardino, in reaction to the comment of a city resident of
Mexican descent whose family was displaced from their home because of health
and safety issues, authored a letter offering the City to arrange and pay for one-
way transportation to Mexico for the resident and his family (a copy of the letter
is attached hereto as Exhibit" A");
WHEREAS, Mr. Penman never received authorization from the Mayor
and City Council to write the letter or to make the offer contained therein; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Penman has failed to apologize for his letter and
conduct to the city resident, his family, or the residents of San Bernardino.
NOW THEREFORE, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of
San Bernardino does hereby resolve as follows:
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2001-7
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO TO CENSURE THE CITY ATTORNEY
FOR UNAUTHORIZED AND INSENSITIVE CONDUCT
SECTION 1. The letter on December 20, 2000 by James F. Penman, City
Attorney of the City of San Bernardino ("City Attorney"), and the offer therein to
arrange and pay for a resident and his family's transportation to Mexico, was
never authorized by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San
Bernardino ("Council") as required under the power and authority granted to the
Council in Article VIII and Section 40(aa) of the Charter of the City of San
Bernardino ("City Charter").
SECTION 2. The unauthorized letter on December 20, 2000 by James F.
Penman, City Attorney, and his attempt to make an official and binding offer on
behalf of the City of San Bernardino to relocate individuals to foreign countries,
violated the limited powers granted to the City Attorney in Section 55 of the City
Charter.
SECTION 3. By his unauthorized and ultra vires letter on December 20,
2000, and his subsequent failure to apologize for the insensitive comments
therein, James F. Penman, City Attorney, has ridiculed the city resident to whom
the letter was addressed, his family, and his nation of origin, and Mr. Penman has
helped incite fear, prejudice, and hatred within our community.
SECTION 4. By his unauthorized and ultra vires letter on December 20,
2000, and his subsequent failure to apologize for the insensitive comments
therein, James F. Penman, City Attorney, has caused an embarrassment to the
City of San Bernardino and has disrupted the City goals to maintain racial and
ethnic harmony, and undermined the goals of all to support and honor the
diversity among residents and their cultures.
SECTION 5. The Council hereby officially censures James F. Penman,
City Attorney, for his unauthorized and ultra vires letter authored on December
20, 2000, and his subsequent failure to apologize for the insensitive comments
therein.
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2001-7
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO TO CENSURE THE CITY ATTORNEY
FOR UNAUTHORIZED AND INSENSITIVE CONDUCT
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by
the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a
j oint regular meeting thereof, held on the 8th day of January
2001, by the following vote, to wit:
Council Members: AYES
ESTRADA x
LIEN x
MCGINNIS x
-
SCHNETZ x
SUAREZ x
ANDERSON
MCCAMMACK
NAYS
ABSTAIN ABSENT
x
x
(J ~eL.L ~
'dhel Clark, City Clerk
The foregoing resolution is hereby approved this I f-n-<
January ,2001.
day of
Approved as to
Form and legal content:
,.
JAMES F. PENMAN
CITY ATTORNEY
December 20, 2000
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Mr. Valente Duran
c/o EZ-8 Motel, Room 237-238
1750 S. Waterman
San Bernardino, California 92408
Re: Cypress Inn Trailer Park
Dear Mr. Duran:
I read in the paper yesterday a statement attributed to you, "In Mexico, they treat us better
than here."
The City of San Bernardino, out of concern for the safety of you and your family, evacuated
you and your family on Thursday, December 14, 2000 from Cypress Inn Trailer Park to the EZ-8
Motel. Our Fire Department Inspectors believe you and your family were living in a situation that
could result in serious injury or even death, due to the condition of the park and your mobile home.
The people of the City of San Bernardino are presently paying for two rooms at the motel for
you and your family and are reimbursing the Salvation Army for providing you and your family with
daily meals.
We intend to continue providing you this assistance for the remainder of the two week period
that you were informed of when the evacuation first occurred.
In addition, as you have also previously been advised, the people of the City of San
Bernardino, through the City's Economic Development Agency, is prepared to assist you and your
family in obtaining more permanent housing by paying your first month's rent and a security deposit
at a residence that meets fire and building code standards.
I do not know if the COmment attributed to you in the newspaper is correct or not. If it is
correct, I understand and respect your feelings for what I assume is your native country.
300 NCRTH "0" STREET. SAN BERNARDINO. CA 92418-<>001 . (909) 384-5355. FAX (909) 384-5238
Mr. Valente Duran
Re: Cypress Inn Trailer Park
,
Page 2
However, I want you to know that the Comment attributed to you in Tuesday's paper was
perceived as a criticism by you of the effort and funds that the people of the City of San Bernardino
are providing for you and your family. We do not believe this criticism of our efforts is justified.
The people of this City have no desire to deprive you or your family of what you may believe
would be better treatment by the government of Mexico. Therefore, in substitution for the housins,
food, and other assistance the City of San Bernardino is voluntarily providing, we want to give you
the option of continuing to receive this assistance or accepting our offer to arrange and pay for
transportation for you and your family, one way, to Mexico.
This alternative offer is conditioned upon your signing a release for the City of San
Bernardino.
If you choose not to accept this alternative offer the people of the City of San Bernardino will
continue to assist you in the manner and for the time previously indicated.
Sincerely,
L7f~
aAMES F. PENMAN,
City Attorney
CC: Mayor Judith Valles
City Councilmembers
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