The so-called “Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government” ripped the Santa Ana City Council and Santa Ana Police Department Chief Paul Walters today, in a mass email that questioned how much Walters will get paid as interim Santa Ana City Manager (see the graphic above or click here).
The Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government is registered as a Political Action Committee. It is run by two Republicans, John Acosta and Art Lomeli, who do not live in Santa Ana.
Walters’ team responded to the mass email thusly:
Double-dipping: Paul is not double-dipping. About 6 years ago, he actually did retire and the city asked him to come back temporarily on a contract basis to groom one of the deputy chiefs to take over his position. During the process, the deputy chief, Dan McCoy, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and subsequently died. The next in line was Bruce Carlson, who was eventually diagnosed with and succumbed to liver cancer. Since there was no one else the city felt comfortable with as chief, they asked Paul to un-retire, which he did.
Actually, it will cost the City of Santa Ana less money for Walters to serve as both Interim City Manager and Chief of the SAPD. It would cost quite a bit more to pay two people to do those jobs.
The truth is that the Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government is just a mouthpiece for failed Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Al Amezcua. He dislikes Walters because Amezcua makes a living defending drug dealers and gang bangers in court – while Walters and his department do their best to arrest these people.
I also found it interesting that the Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government’s latest email also focused on Code Enforcement – a tool often used in the past by Santa Ana’s dwindling white minority to make life tough for their Latino neighbors.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Walters takes over Pulido’s job too.
Santa Ana is most corrupt city council in the OC and Walters hotdoging will eventually catch up with him as it did with Sheriff Carona.
The truth will come out, single dipping, double dipping, or tripple dipping.
Walter has earned respect.
The city council may have made a mistake, thinking the chief can be bought off, once the cities top cop take control of city management, there may be some embaresing questions being asked.
Cook,
In a civilized world if the police is in charge of the government it is called police state.
How did Walters earned a respect?
By using Mexicans for target practice?
By shooting mother in front of her 18 month old daughter?
Sometimes Cook, you appear as if you have fell down from your tricycle head first.
I wander what dirt Walters has against the council members to get them approve this hostile takeover of the city.
“Double-dipping: Paul is not double-dipping. About 6 years ago, he actually did retire and the city asked him to come back temporarily on a contract basis to groom one of the deputy chiefs to take over his position. During the process, the deputy chief, Dan McCoy, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and subsequently died. The next in line was Bruce Carlson, who was eventually diagnosed with and succumbed to liver cancer. Since there was no one else the city felt comfortable with as chief, they asked Paul to un-retire, which he did.”
THE HOW AND WHY OF DOUBLE DIPPING IS IRRELEVANT. DOUBLE DIPPING IS DOUBLE DIPPING NO MATTER HOW YOU APPLY THE LIP STICK.
double dipping
the practice of receiving compensation, benefits, etc. from two or more sources in a way regarded as unethical, as from a military pension and a government job
Related Forms:
•double dipper noun
Webster’s New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
double dipping
noun
The practice of drawing two incomes from the government, usually by holding a government job and receiving a pension, as for prior military service.
Related Forms:
•double dipper noun
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Lomeli,
Correa’s Chief of Staff is the former Westminster Chief of Police. Are you going to call him a double dipper too?
If a retired Marine has a city job are you going to rip him too?
Walters earned his pension. Do you want to strip it from him?
The City Council got rid of Ream – and you are still unhappy. Clearly there is no pleasing you.
Admin,
Your arguments are irrelevant relative to the definition of double dipping. Pay attention to the definition.
DOUBLE DIPPING IS , FOR AXAMPLE , WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL RETIRES COLLECTS A PENSION FROM A COUNTY AGENCY THEN RETURNS ………….IS HIRED BACK FOR THE SAME POSITION OR FOR THE SAME COUNTY AGENCY- THE SAME EMPLOYER.
No one I know is interested in ripping any one. We are simply presenting facts. Some like you support this practice , others will not and have a right to voice an opinion and take action. Just like you have the right to support double dipping and to take the initiative to support the practice. America and it’s Democracy is beautiful because of this. We should all work to protect and demand Democracy.
I do not have the power to take or give anything to any one relative to this issue.
Admin,
There is a difference when you retire from a job with pension and then find some other job as something to do and earn extra income, and staying in same job and retire at that job.
What is a purpose of retiring?……. Huh?
In many professions a retirement is mandatory (i.e. pilots, military etc.) in which case you cannot continue same work. You must get some other work.
In military you get 55 and you are out no more military!
If you want continue working for Blackwater, private military, than that is a OK.
There is something unethical about retiring and continue working in same capacity for same organization specially when retirement is at 50 and in private sector 66.
I should add that if Walters would retire from the SAPD and then be hired as City Manager would not be double dipping IMO.
Stanislav.
It is a temp job.
Why?
There isno one else from the Manager’s office to fill in?
FYI, there is pension too to acrue even for temporary position 3Xhighest year.
Couldn’t Pulido’s brother qualify?…. or Walters son?
The fact is that it is unethical in the city which just passes code of ethics so Alvarez can serve three terms.
Admin
Posted May 15, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Stanislav.
It is a temp job.
After retiring and a pension Chief Walters returned as a temp. PD Chief. It has turned into a permanent job.
Admin wrote:
“Double-dipping: Paul is not double-dipping. About 6 years ago, he actually did retire and the city asked him to come back temporarily on a contract basis to groom one of the deputy chiefs to take over his position. During the process, the deputy chief, Dan McCoy, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and subsequently died. The next in line was Bruce Carlson, who was eventually diagnosed with and succumbed to liver cancer. Since there was no one else the city felt comfortable with as chief, they asked Paul to un-retire, which he did.”
“State law allows public employees who retire to work for their agency up to 960 hours per year of pay,”
– Is the Chief exempt from this because Santa Ana is a charter city like the city of Bell?
-Is the Chief working for half of his salary at retirement?
-Is the Chief working for free the other 6 months of the year?
-Is the Chief getting the same salary he had at retirement?
-If the Chief has a Part time salary is he collecting full time benefits?
If all the major players of the City of Santa Ana are gone, why doesn’t the city council and mayor request the County of take over these functions until they hire someone?
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 11 LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SEC. 8. (a) The Legislature may provide that counties perform
municipal functions at the request of cities within them.
(b) If provided by their respective charters, a county may agree
with a city within it to assume and discharge specified municipal
functions.
Are you kidding Lisann?
The chaos like this is a perfect environment to rip of the city some more.
Yes, that is what I’m worried about the Chief taking over that means that he will be able to invest for Santa Ana and approve funding. So wouldn’t it be a conflict of interest to request funds for the police department and then write the checks as city manager to the police department after the city council approves it? I would rather has someone with no interest that can make sound decisions.
lisann,
The conflict of interest and unethical questions in this case and in others are serious. Santa Ana is not the only city with double dipping practices there are other cities and agencies that also practice this.
In addition to what you point out ………remember how the Santa Ana Police Department Political Action Committee funds indirectly campaign expenditures for the Mayor and Council members.
Remember the Chief Walter’s robo calls attacking Amezcua this past election? These examples of political support for the sitting council and Mayor justly provide the appearance of political payback. The Council and Mayor can not afford this type of criticism.
The practice of double dipping is legal. The practice is bad because of these types of possible abuses.
Lomeli,
Walters made those calls because Amezcua LIED about having Sanchez’ endorsement. Moreover, Walters did not want a guy who defends drug dealers and gang bangers to become our next Mayor. Good call.
“I would rather has someone with no interest that can make sound decisions.”…….. Hmmm.
And where do you think you can get that someone if they ignored my application for the manager…….. Huh?
At this point who cares if they are double dipping or single dipping or going for a full dipping they are not serving the needs of the city!
No responses from city council, no responses from the city planning or police when the public shows actual law breaking!
They are afraid of a lawsuit for anything and the way the world works now thats the only way anything gets done, in court! I ask for a meeting with city officials and I got a call from SA PD what did I want I’m like I called the mayors office the the police dept.!
We need enforcement and maybe a public liason that can show the city the issues in Santa Ana!
“Walters did not want a guy who defends drug dealers”…….. Hmmmmm
And who should defend drug dealers in a society in which a defense is constitutionally mandated…….. Huh?
This is not Mexico yet…. Zorro!
Man, its getting stuffy in this city. Defcon three or something. But I only have a business in Santa Ana so I better shut up.
Lomeli,
What your coalition is doing is not about free speech but rather about Republicans who don’t live here raising money so they can circumvent the will of the voters.
Who else is on your Board? Why won’t you publish their names? Where is YOUR transparency?
Admin
Posted May 17, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Lomeli,
What your coalition is doing is not about free speech but rather about Republicans who don’t live here raising money so they can circumvent the will of the voters.
Who else is on your Board? Why won’t you publish their names? Where is YOUR transparency?
Admin,
Go to the website I have made sure it has been updated.
The coalitions Board are all Santa Ana residents except for three. The board is growing and will be added with Santa Ana residents. The majority supporters of the coalition are Santa Ana residents.
So in reality the Coalition is an organization made up of Santa Ana residents interested in the city’s residents best interests.
YOUR SPIN IS FAULTY AND CHILDISH.
“so they can circumvent the will of the voters.”…….. Hmmmmmm
Zorro, you are so full of it!
Every election SAPD union, FD union and City union will circumvent the will of the voters.
Did you forgot your candidacy?… and your numerous drives against the various city propositions?
I did not!
I must agree with Dr. Lomeli.
Lomeli,
I checked our your website last night. It had not been updated then. I am glad you have finally come clean.
How many of your board members are Republicans?
“I checked our your website last night. It had not been updated then.”……. Hmmmm
Zorro that my change soon!
In contrast your site is updated hourly and no one cares!
Admin
Posted May 17, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Lomeli,
I checked our your website last night. It had not been updated then. I am glad you have finally come clean.
How many of your board members are Republicans?
If you would of checked the website adequately you would of noticed that the Coalition welcomes members and supporters from all neighborhoods, socio-economic levels and all political affiliations.
So I can not tell you how many are Republicans as we do not ask for this label nor care for an individual to be part of the Coalition.
Fiala,
You can look at our readership data here:
http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=s26newsantaana&r=0
We average over one thousand page views daily.
Lomeli,
Your publicist says your board has several people on it. Why won’t you post their names? What are you hiding?
Republicans are generally anti-Latino, so we need to know if your board is dominated by Republicans.
Admin
Posted May 17, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Lomeli,
Your publicist says your board has several people on it. Why won’t you post their names? What are you hiding?
Republicans are generally anti-Latino, so we need to know if your board is dominated by Republicans.
I have told you earlier we are posting our Board. I directed our publicist to do so this morning.
You are generalizing. The GOP as an institution can be argued to be anti-Latino. Individual Republicans can be some are not.
I , John Acosta, and all of my Republican friends are not anti-Latino. We are interested in the Republican philosophy and not with manipulation of issues for political positioning that are irrelevant to the Republican philosophy .
“We average over one thousand page views daily.”………. Hmmm
Admin you are are playing stupid or you are a natural.
With a keywords like Santa Ana etc. etc. etc. you will get zillions clicks from google of people who are searching for other things than your puny blog.
Only the one who make actual comments are looking for you, including the trolls.
I can see commentators but I can’t see any trolls.
Just mollify me.
This blog is a looser but is local and I will try to comment here as your melancholy will alow.
Fiala,
We appreciate your comments. Thanks for reading this blog.
Lomeli,
I agree that you and John are not anti-Latino. However unless we know who the other Republicans on your Board are we will not know where they stand with regard to Latinos.
Post the names of your Board members and let us see who they are.
Admin,
I understand you have an agenda of division. The Coalition’s mission and purpose has no room for the division you are set on as startegy against us.
We are for better government. All deserve this no matter what neighborhood you are from, what socio-economic level you are from or what your political affiliation is.
This Coalition will not tolerate divisive behavior.
Lomeli,
If anyone is being divisive it is you and your band of angry malcontents.
Post the names of your board members and let us see who you are.
Admin
Posted May 17, 2011 at 5:20 PM
Lomeli,
If anyone is being divisive it is you and your band of angry malcontents.
Post the names of your board members and let us see who you are.
Admin,
If advocating for better government is your definition of malcontents then we fit the bill according to you.
It is OK that you are content. We will never attack you for being content. What is your problem with others thinking differently than you? We are not for you, we are for those that think differently than you. LIVE AND LET LIVE.
The posting of board members is in the process. The world does not revolve around you.
Lomeli,
The current City Council has cleaned house at City Hall. And you and your angry lot are still attacking them. When will you start giving them credit for getting things done?
I will be checking on the posting of your board members and you can bet that we will be following up with another post.
“The current City Council has cleaned house at City Hall.”…….. Hmmmm
castling the king?
That is not cleaning house, Zorro.
Fiala,
They have rid City Hall of Ream and his top henchmen. I would most certainly call that cleaning house.
“They have rid City Hall of Ream and his top henchmen.”……… Hmmmm
But I liked Ream!
He was such nice quiet guy at the meetings he couldn’t possibly do anything wrong.
I can guarantee you Zorro that if Chief Walters will ever resign from the temporary job the new guy will be worse than Ream because this council has no clue how to select anyone good for a job.
It will be another Pulido puppet…… remember when you use to knew?
Before your the amnesia kicked in.
Fiala,
They hired a search firm to find a new city manager.
Admin,
“The current City Council has cleaned house at City Hall. And you and your angry lot are still attacking them. When will you start giving them credit for getting things done?”
Flecther got taken care of handsomely economically do not know if that included another plush position somewhere. Was replace with a similar type .
Cindy Nelson is now hired as consultant for the city on the Station District Developemnet.
There is talk that Ream is to be hired back as consultant for pending developments.
So, exactly how did the Council clean house at city hall. Just playing musical chairs I believe.
“I will be checking on the posting of your board members and you can bet that we will be following up with another post. ”
OOOOOHHHHH!!!!!! I am scared. Pedroza please don’t. LOL.
Lomeli,
I was most disappointed, but not surprised, to see that you have allowed Debbie McEwen to serve on your board. Have you no idea as to what she has done to our people, here in Santa Ana? This is exactly what I expected – and now we know why you did not post your board members names from the start…
“I was most disappointed, but not surprised, to see that you have allowed Debbie McEwen to serve on your board.”…….. Hmmmm
Admin, all these boards are just reheated soufflé.
The board which will have me on it is yet to come.
I am waiting for a rapture this Saturday at 3:00 when the God takes his religious nutcases like Larry Gilbert and you with him so I and Satan have clear field to rule and use profanity again.
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22353/114389-21-2011-ready-rapture
Debbie understands that divisiveness is the strategy used so nothing gets done. It was an effective strategy for economic and political manipulation.
We are smarter now and through organized unity will be effective. I am disappointed that you know this and support the divisive strategy of your manipulators.
Lomeli,
The only ones acting divisive are you and your ragtag coalition.
We have a Latino City Council that is taking care of business. They are doing a good job despite your lame protestations.
“We have a Latino City Council that is taking care of business.”…….. Hmmmmm
Obviously if you are mentioning Latino in your statement it means that they do business in different stile than Anglo.
So name one Latino country in the world which does better than any Anglo country.
You may start with the mother of all Latino countries Spain.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/167694.html
As shown above Zorro, Latinos have no ability to run anything more complex then anion fields.
The only ones acting divisive are you and your ragtag coalition.
We have a Latino City Council that is taking care of business. They are doing a good job despite your lame protestations.
Pedroza ,
I beg to differ. You are the divisive one intentionally for political manipulation or out of ignorance. Your statement “We have a Latino City Council that is taking care of business. ”
WHY MENTION “LATINO CITY COUNCIL”. IT IS IRRELEVANT AND DIVISSIVE.
WE ARE NOT A LATINO COALITION OR RISTRICTIVE IN ANY OTHER FORM , SO WE ARE NOT DIVISSIVE. USE BETTER ARGUMENTS YOU ARE BORING.
“YOU ARE BORING.”………. is the correct statement!