I Love San Bernardino
No Bankruptcy

I graduated from high school in 1966 and was drafted in 1969 by President Richard Nixon. I was against the Viet Nam War but I love Viet Nam Veterans.

I am not a politician, but I believe that politics may be our only solution.

I look like an Irishman, but I am Native American.

I’m not a citizen of San Bernardino, I’m just one voice

But I believe in America and in Democracy and in the 1st Amendment.

I believe that one voice can make a difference.

I bought my first business in San Bernardino, and filed my first bankruptcy in San Bernardino.

I’m a lawyer licensed to practice in the State of California and in front of the Bankruptcy Court in Riverside.

This I can tell you for sure. the citizens elected people to protect them and to take care of their money and those people have failed. Why do they think that an army of lawyers from Los Angeles and a Bankruptcy judge from who knows where can do a better job than our they did?

I’ve been trying to think of a word that describes how I feel about the idea that San Bernardino will go down in history as one of the cities who filed bankruptcy because Governor Brown decided to use Redevelopment Agencies to plug the non-stop spending gap and budget mess in Sacramento.

Our friends and neighbors who have served as policeman and fireman are losing their jobs. Why? Because someone cooked the books…

And the people who were elected to protect San Bernardino citizens think that an army of certified public accountants auditing where the money has gone will save the day.

Breaking the unions and reneging on pension obligations is the answer? Really?

The people who have presided over this mess are asking San Bernardino citizens to trust them. Here’s a promise to you politicians…If you go forward with this bankruptcy you will not be re-elected.

If you go forward with this bankruptcy you will be recalled.

If you go forward with this bankruptcy the charter of the City of San Bernardino which has vested so much power in the Mayor and the City Attorney will be changed.

The City Attorney admits that the books were cooked under his watch. He should resign immediately and a special election should be held to replace him with an attorney who knows something about turning around a sticky financial situation, an expert.

The Mayor admits that the books were cooked under his watch. He should resign immediately and a special election should be held to replace him with a Mayor who can tell the Governor that he had no right to bankrupt the City of San Bernardino by eliminating the Redevelopment Agency.

To the honest and faithful employees of the City of San Bernardino, I say, I apologize. I may be just one voice, but I was silent and did not take action.

But now you’ve got me mad. In fact, I’m mad as heck and I’m not going to take it anymore.

I love San Bernardino. It has been good to me. I refuse to see it ruined by absentee owners in the form of federal judges and carpetbagger attorneys who will make millions from this bankruptcy filing.

If we all work together we can avoid bankruptcy. The worst that can happen is that the City will lose its credit rating. Well that is shot already. Maybe the city will go into receivership, so what?

Will you join me? I have a lot of ideas about how to let the politicians know that they will be ridden out of office on a rail if they stick their heads in the sand and ignore the will of the people. But here is a simple one. For the next 30 days, citizens of San Bernardino and friends of San Bernardino, turn on your headlights in the daytime. It won’t cost you an extra dime and the politicians will see what you are saying: “You love San Bernardino and you don’t want them to file bankruptcy.”

You can also take the time to shop with a local San Bernardino merchant, to eat at a local San Bernardino restaurant or to shop at a local San Bernardino mall.

There will be more to come… on that one, you can trust me.