HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic comment TreasureThank you Councilmember Shorett for reading my public comment tonight, I appreciate that
you are available to residents unlike my 3rd Ward representative.
First, I would like to address agenda item #8 the consultant for cannabis. I ask that this
discussion be led by the Mayor Pro-Tem and without the Mayor or Juan Figueroa. A new
declaration was put out by a former cannabis applicant claiming that Val-Devious and Juan
were a part of a pay to play scheme and were requesting illegal payments from him.
Additionally, the Mayor has a cannabis consulting company, because in San Bernardino an
elected official can open a consulting business on the same issues he can vote on and that adds
to the ongoing conflict of interest. We have enough litigation against us as you discussed in
closed session and our liability premium has gone up 50% because the Mayor and Council have
literally become a liability to the city.
Next, I want to address the emotional breakdown of the Mayor last night when you all rightfully
cut his travel budget along with yours. Besides showing the public that the Mayor is about as
emotionally mature as a 2-year-old, he showed that he could care less about anyone but
himself. While residents and the city suffer financially, he wants to continue to take vacations
on their dime. We are losing services and he wants a $20,000 2-hour long dog and pony show
for the state of the city. He is an absolute disgrace and needs to resign now. That would be the
best financial cut the city could make!
My last comment is about the behavior of the City Manager last night towards Councilwoman
Sandra Ibarra. While it is understandable that as a city manager going back and forth with a
councilmember who is not seasoned or aware of their actual role, can become absolutely
irritating but that does not give you the right to be unprofessional. You are a highly over paid,
under qualified temp City Manager who was hired so Val-Devious could keeping moving his
agenda forwarded unrestricted. You need to check your attitude at the door because your
legacy is that of someone who helped San Bernardino fail all over again after you sold your soul
for a $70,000 boost to your PERS, probably why you kept dodging Fred’s questions about PERS
contributions and our unfunded liability last night. It is a shame what residents have to deal
with in our City and it needs to be corrected now. Sandra, I ask you to reconsider your position
on your vote last night and move the budget cut recommendations forward. Throwing your
vote away because you want to act like a petulant child only hurts the residents and is
absolutely unacceptable. This isn’t a game folks, this is the livelihood of 216,000 residents and
$134 million of their hard-earned money.
Thank you,
Dr. Treasure Ortiz