SANBAG urges county supervisors to investigate themselves
Posted By Staff Reporter on March 4, 2010
SAN BERNARDINO • The San Bernardino County transportation planning agency SANBAG on Wednesday urged county supervisors to launch an independent investigation into themselves, with a current supervisor and chief of staff recently linked as possible co-conspirators in the largest bribery scandal in county history. (Click here to read the press release.)
In a formal resolution (click here to read the resolution), SANBAG members representing more than 20 cities requested the county immediately hire an independent investigator to dig into “all circumstances” related to a controversial $102 million settlement with developer Colonies Partners. The resolution stated the investigation should be made public and completed within 90 days.
“We feel if there’s been wrongdoing, then it needs to be investigated and it needs to come out,” Victorville Councilman Ryan McEachron said. “The county Board of Supervisors has a duty to be forthright to the public, just like any elected official.”
The county and county Flood Control District responded by calling a new civil investigation “unnecessary and premature,” with a probe by the county District Attorney and state Attorney General offices already underway.
“SANBAG’s resolution is nothing more than an attempt to gain some advantage in its litigation with the county Flood Control District,” the county press release states. “As SANBAG is fully aware, a separate civil investigation would not have the ability to compel testimony in the manner of a criminal investigation, and it could not possibly be completed within 90 days.”
The bitter legal dispute stems from a county corruption scandal centering around the $102 million settlement paid to developer Colonies Partners in 2006 over flood control improvements in Upland. Prosecutors allege Colonies developers obtained the legal victory through corrupt means, including bribing county supervisors to OK the deal.
To read the full story, see Thursday’s Daily Press. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755 or clickhere.
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