Grand Jury chides Contra Costa Supervisors for failure to make meaningful change to County OPEB debt
May 17, 2008
Contra Costa County has reached a critical juncture regarding its escalating retiree health care benefit costs. The unfunded financial liability is now estimated to be approximately $1.74 billion. That figure is more than Contra Costa County’s total annual operating budget, and nearly equal to the unfunded liabilities for Alameda, Orange, and San Diego Counties combined.
The latest estimate is lower than the $2.57 billion calculated two years ago. The reduction results primarily from the use of new actuarial assumptions, and secondarily, from recent board of supervisors’ action to modify the health care benefits for unrepresented county employees.
The liability is still staggering, because the board of supervisors has yet to make any meaningful changes to the generous health care benefit plans available to county employees and retirees covered by union contracts, despite three opportunities to do so in the past several months.
The county’s predicament did not develop overnight. It has been nurtured for decades by past boards that repeatedly agreed to increasingly expensive health care benefits in a labor-friendly environment, without any consideration of future costs. But in light of today’s clear understanding of the crushing impact that the obligation will have on the county’s ability to provide services, it is worrisome to see the current board appears to be continuing this trend.
Most of the county’s 39 union contracts expire in September of 2008. In the past several months, three new labor contracts have been approved. None includes changes to health care benefit plans that would begin to seriously address the county’s imminent financial crisis. This does not bode well for the outcome of future negotiations unless the supervisors take as realistic and tough a position with labor unions as it has with the County’s unrepresented employees.
If the Board of Supervisors either collectively, or any of its members individually, squander this opportunity to substantially improve the county’s financial situation in the name of political expediency or labor peace, out-of-control retiree health care costs will surely and painfully impact the county’s ability to deliver basic services to its more than one million citizens.
The complete report is available on the Contra Costa County Grand Jury web site: www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
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39 Responses to “Grand Jury chides Contra Costa Supervisors for failure to make meaningful change to County OPEB debt”
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So on what was the CC Times basing its endorsement of Piepho and Glover?
Mary’s brains and Federal’s good looks?
The Times has its head up its ass; no wonder it’s losing readership.
It looks like our Supervisors are wearing their blinders again. I just received a news flash from Piepho that trys to tell the public how many things she’s done. I guess she forgot to put in in the news flash that the County really is in debt, The Grand Jury pretty much tells them they haven’t a clue about what they have been doing all along. I guess that taxpayer President, (forgot her name) was pretty much correct when she wrote the article about the mindless group running our County and refusing to admit the budget isn’t really balanced. And we must not forget Piepho writing, sending and claiming she has balanced the budget. Not sure what Budget she was working on, it must of not been the County’s.
Ole Mary keeps movin left I noticed that she is endorsed by National Women’s Political Caucus of Contra Costa County. I wonder what her far right friends think of this endorsement. This group is closely affiliated with NARAL.
Mary let me know when you do the DeSaulnier change to Democrat. I want to attend the party after you lose the election.
Just ask Mark DeSaulnier… the Grand Jury is a bunch of ineffectual fuddy-duddies and this report means nothing. The Times won’t say a word. Hell they have already endorsed Piepho and Glover. Game is over.
This is such a Blue County the dems will rob taxpayers blind for as long as they want. This County is so Blue there are no consequences whatsoever for Piepho, Gioia, and Glover, or Torlakson and DeSaulnier, or for Tauscher or Miller. So conservatives should just relax and enjoy the rape.
Did anyone actually read the whole report? It’s not all that long and the summary doesn’t quite match the content.
Some highlights I noted:
- First brought to the Supervisor’s attention in 1994
- Nothing done for a decade.
- Considerable effort in the last year
- 39 or more than 90% of union contracts set to expire this year and still to be negotiated.
Some accomplishments noted in the report:
- Hiring freeze since February and all new hires are reviewed on case-by-case
- Second tier benefits group(non-union)
- Several Jan ‘08 report recommendations were adopted in the latest budget from two weeks ago including a new task force, news terms for retirees going forward, locking of subsidies beginning in Jan. ‘10 at ‘09 levels, and the list goes on.
The summary either doesn’t quite jive with the findings or someone has some unrealistic expectations. It’s only 9 pages long and I would encourage everyone to read the whole thing. Then ask yourself if the cut and pasted summary gives the whole picture. Just how quickly is/was the GJ and some vocal people in this readership expecting the problem to be fixed? You say it’s not good enough, so what is “good enough”?
No spin, just a call for objective reading.
Notably missing in the report is any mention of skyrocketing health care costs and the impact, which is beyond the reach or control of anyone within the County or the negotiating teams.
I wonder what B.S. the Supervisors will come up with to discredit the Grand Jury.
Pretty soon we will join Vallejo in bankruptsy unless the unions take some concessions. After all, it is the unions that are in control of bankrupting this county. I hope they jump in and assist in a recovery method before it’s too late.
BOS cannot change, Nonsense. There is no reason to believe they can. There is no evidence that you or they have the courage to stand up to do the right thing. In fact, every shred of evidence suggests the BOS—most especially Piepho—will continue to avoid the tough decisions in violation of the BOS trust to taxpayers of this county.
You can cherry pick all you want, Nonsense as you live up to your name, but I believe the Grand Jury summary of its finding is more aacurate than your wishful thinking when it states:
“Supervisors have said that they have learned their lesson, that they will do better, and that they are on the road to fiscal sanity. Their record says otherwise.”
WHY WOULD IT SAY THIS instead of play along with your head up your ass thinking?
- The Board was briefed about the retiree health problem as far back as 1994, but delayed taking any action until recently. Page 4.
- Individual supervisors are individually communicating with labor leaders undermining the negotiation process. Page 4
- The Board has continued to approve labor contracts through the last couple of months that “…in each case, the Supervisors as a group have failed to take any meaningful steps to address out-of-control health benefit costs, attributable largely to the generous union agreements.” Page 8
- The Board has targeted only 40% of the OPEB debt, the Grand Jury recommends raising the target to 85% of the debt. They say the Board should come up with a plan in the next six months as to how this will be achieved. Page 9
- The current annual “gap between the required and planned contributions” for OPEB is estimated to be $54 million. The Board is not required to actually “fund” that amount, but it must fund it, reduce it in some manner, or disclose the $54 million as a liability on the financial statements. Currently, the plan is to report the liability. Page 7
In a response to an earlier post piepho’s nonsense boys called me paranoid. Gosh if only I would have been listing to these guys a long time ago I could have saved myself a lot of time and money in therapy. Thanks guys for the ongoing physiological analysis but try to keep in mind this is not about me so stop diverting away from the fact that your beloved Grand Jury just hung piepho’s hinney from the flagpole. Read every detail you want in the report…the overwhelming result is the same, this BoS has failed the citizens and keeping them in place maintains the outlook for continued failure.
For me the most telling aspect is the well established fact that this was a problem on the day piepho took office yet she has folded right in with the rest of them and failed to do anything to set herself apart or deliver a plan to solve the problem in a truly meaningful way.
As for the Sheriff comments and the statement that the Sheriff had money to hire deputies and chose not to do so. That is ludicrous. Please tell us why he would purposefully make his job harder and the SO less effective. Lets hear some rational reasons. What exactly are you accusing the Sheriff of?
old school, I’m no Psychologist, but that repeated reference and fixation to insertion of things in anal cavities can’t be healthy. I’ll leave it as you’re in the glass half empty crowd with Mr. Barber.
The GJ also acknowledges progress on OPEB and you can’t see it…….check. The OPEB liability has been reduced by 1/3 in the latest budget report and you won’t acknowledge that…….check. The OPEB liability was NOT resolved overnight as some here would appear to expect…..check.
You folks are well rooted in reality and realistic expectations I see.
Mr. Barber, I would suggest to you that you expand your horizons a bit and get your facts via some other source that the crap you’re being spoon fed via the DB SMAC. Your shameless shilling and covering for the Sheriff on this issue is at the detriment to this community and all of your neighbors. Your usefulness to him will wear out shortly and there will no tears shed when he throws you under the bus.
The Neighborhood Watch Deputy was previously used as “an out” for not putting another Deputy in a car out here. Now he was pulled before the current budget cycle is even completed. More of the Sheriff putting his finger in the eye of our community while you wear the blinders. Notice he didn’t leave the Department, he was moved laterally. How does one do that if they didn’t get funding as you claim?? How many office staff were relieved before removing that position if funding is as tight as we are told, but public safety is paramount?
You can only run around in that circle jerk for so long before you just look stupid for not wising up.
Bob Mankin’s No Nonsense sounds like Tattoo on Mary Piepho’s Fantasy Island where everything is fine and the truth does not matter. He welcomes all to his insanity.
Too bad Bob can’t think for himself and has been reduced to posting whatever drivel and twisted half-truths his handler David writes for him— who else would know the trivialities that Nonsense brings up.
Now David has Bob spinning the Grand Jury report as if they love Mary, and the brave Mary Piepho has courageously stood up against County politics, when in fact, Piepho has hid behind the corruption for three years and depends on it now for her political life.
But, Bob’s posts are entertaining, I can say that much. It’s always interesting to watch people like Mankin prostitute themselves.
Mr. Barber, not your smartest move trashing someone’s name when you don’t know who you’re sparring with. You keep speculating on my identity and we’ll keep upsizing the Dunce cap.
The facts get stacked against your opinions and you have no rebuttals except for the same, tired ad hominem crap. A definitive sign of the weakness in your candidate and your knowledge of the issues. That coupled with a heaping gulp from the Houston kool-aid factory here, and it all goes to hell in a hand basket.
“Hugs and kisses you silly little guy.”
Why does this continue to be about me? I suggest you use your time more productively if you truly care about your candidate as the GJ report is not going to go away no matter how much you huff and puff.
For the record I only post under my own name so I take no credit for another persons assumption that Mankin who has exhibited public disdain for the Sheriff is involved with the no-nonsense crew. Please check off-line with this blog’s administrator to confirm that I only use my actual identity. And hey if identity is such a big deal, show some guts and post under your real name(s)….whats wrong are you ashamed to be associated with the piepho camp? Or is it that you can dish it out but you can’t take it?
Huff and puff? Sounds like some delusional flashback to a bedtime story you were told.
I don’t want the report to “go away” as you put it. In its entirety I believe it’s a fair assessment. Some people(present company excluded) can read objectively and see progress has been made, but much work is still to be done. That, IMO, is the summary of the report. You read it differently with that kool-aid overdose spin. So be it.
Don’t flatter yourself by suggesting it’s about you. It’s about what’s best for the community, which in my opinion for this topic is the incumbent Piepho. One of these days you might actually present something more substantive than a bumper sticker slogan for your candidate, but I’m not holding my breath.
This is the first time on this site and WOW I am truly impressed with the responses from the Peipho camp “no time for nonsense”!
Did David have time to write these responses while on the clock at the lab?
A few months back I sent David and Mary a couple of emails asking for some clarity.
The first subject was the jurisdiction of the DBCSD and if David felt that there could be a potential conflict of interest with Mary or the BOS.
After a couple hour conversation with David (on the clock) being paid I believe with tax payers funds, he gave me some areas to look into including the codes that would explain the Brown act etc.
It was not until I dug deeper into the “formation documents of the DBCSD”( that he did not direct me to) that I found specfics that would answer several of my questions.
The BOS approved the LAFCO findings on June 10 1997 on the Discovery Bay Municipal Advisory Council (DBMAC) that transitioned into the DBCSD in July 1998.
This “Office Memorandum” is very clear that the MAC was terminated on Dec1 1998. The document states clearly that “We are left now with the DBCSD, organized only for the purposes of providing water and sewer service, but with the MANDATE FROM LAFCO and BOS regarding assuming the advisory responsibilities of the MAC.
Just for reference and on record that the Peiphos are anti growth folks!
Mary is on the BOS and has influence to LAFCO that DAVID serves on along with the DBCSD.
No conflict of interest here?
What we all missed in DB was not the “no tow zone” but the way it came about and what other impact it had on the community. Was it in the jurisdiction of the CSD?
While this was going on a potential developer was and is trying to add several hundred holmes on the water. Part of that process is a Environmental Impact Report that looks at all aspects of such development.
What do you think would have happened to that report if the “no tow zone” had not been created?
In my opinion there is a huge conflict, unspoken influence and people operating outside the specific language in the formation documents.
I would be happy to provide any and all copies at our next CSD meeting so you could read yourself.
It is time for a change in our local people that best represent “our community” and not somebody’s political ambitions.
Mark
Mark,
Can this really be true ? Mary says she does not take money from developers because that would demean her ability to be objective.
Maybe there is more bedroom talk without a money exchange than we realize….
All the documents are public record and I would be happy to share.
“No time for nonsense” is hiding from many truths and taking cheap shots at Jeff Barber who we should thank for waking up the community and looking into the actions of the board.
I believe that David has used his political influence wrongly. Mary is on the BOS that influences LAFCO that directs DBCSD. Who voted him into LAFCO? WHY? What would your employer do if you were working on other things while you were on the clock?
Does the department look the other way?
If so then he has exposed the department to a potential discrimination case that we would end up paying for?
Hey Mark, so how many folks did you share this with at the CSD meeting last night? What was the feedback?
Sorry Bud, the suggestion of conflict boat already sailed and you just stepped right off the dock. Your effort was not nearly as convoluted as previous efforts by Mr. Barber to make something of nothing and that explanation was not nearly as twighlight zone as some of his. But aren’t you guys neighbors? I’m sure he could offer some lessons!
I was riveted to that first post until I realized you weren’t going to make a point. A CSD is bascially a MAC on steroids, with the water and sewer responsbilities also linked with the advisory role to the Supervisors in our case.
Still pretty surprised that you guys are actually going to attack the no tow deal again, an ordinance that was done in the interest of public safety on a waterway the Marine Patrol calls the most dangerous in the Delta. Repealing that is akin to approving human carnage and human sacrifice, which is precisely what you’re encouraging by leaving it a free-for-all. But go right ahead and get your name at the top of that appeal so we know who to credit when it goes to hell. The next of kin will surely want to know where to address the hate mail.
You guys planning to bring this back on topic anytime soon or when launching the propaganda you just don’t bother?
So what were we talking about ?
Oh ya, The Grand Jury Critisizing the CURRENT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS for thier LACK OF MANAGEMENT……..
David, I could not be there due to family commitments. As for the no tow zone you must have missed the point!!
Being part of LAFCO and the DBCSD you have seperate responsibilities and only so much jurisdiction. Check with your counsel.
The point here was that you have been operating out of your area and you should have used the same judgement regarding the growth issue.
Just you responding to the blog alone tells me that you don’t have the community in our best interest and you were flushed out into the open. (accomplished) You have bigger goals.
I won’t continue to use this blog, so I will expect a call from you so we can meet as gentlemen and discuss the topics without getting personal. If you can’t meet I will understand.
Make certain that you bring the documents that I discussed in the blog.
You don’t want to get my “next of kin involved”!
Kind of scary that you guys have been stalking the neighborhood. Maybe we should get a gate like you fancy high-end guys have to keep the riff-raff out.
I wish you would quit bringing the no-tow issue up. But it does have play in the supervisors race so now you have coerced me to opine.
IMO the lies, manipulation and misjudgment involved with the no-tow fiasco go straight to piepho’s lack of judgment and lack of character. I firmly believe not telling the truth is worse than being uneducated. That is two strikes. The third is bowing to the unions.
More than once she lied on the public record by saying that waterskiers had been killed or seriously injured near DB (I have this documented). Per the CA DBW that is blatantly false.
Clearly the piepho tag team had no clue as to what was important to the community they purport to represent. They made no effort to make their intentions known and when folks found out team piepho was hit with a significant onslaught of public outcry. In fact it was Supervisor Glover who called for public forum that ultimately caused the piepho’s to lose the battle.
I could go on for pages regarding the true safety issue (s) of the Delta because unlike the nonsense crew and the others who pushed the no-tow ban I actually studied the matter and I am on the water weekly if not daily.
You made the stupid and regrettable statement about the next of kin of the next accident. I am truly sorry to have to remind you but a DB resident has already tragically lost their life in a boating accident since the no-tow issue arose. I’m also sorry to say the blood is on team piepho’s hands because the death involved a personal water craft being driven recklessly and throughout the no-tow debate myself and others (who by the way are more pro-boating safety than any of the no-tow proponents) continued to pound the fact that personal water craft were the primary cause of the accidents, injures and deaths proximate to DB if not state wide. During the debate at a CSD meeting it was loudly stated that the statistics clearly indicated the next tragedy would involve a personal water craft. Had all the no-tow energy and effort gone into dealing with the true biggest risk, just maybe DB would not have lost a resident. IMO the piephos did NO research, showed a lack of judgment and poor character throughout their quest. IMO their blatant stupidity blew a great opportunity to make the Delta safer. IMO instead they clearly showed everyone their MO of lies, deceit and manipulation to further a personal agenda.
I hope you are happy you brought this up as it truly is important in the context of who is and IS NOT qualified to be a county supervisor.
For the record this communication was prepared on my own time and not while being paid by any public agency.
Disco Man: Why do you think Mary has plastered all of her signs all over the developers signs. She has permission from the developers to do that. Remember she skated her own community on the 4th of July last year while she party’d at the Sunset Developers elite 4th of July party in San Ramon? How about the Cecchini property, has anyone clarified the relationship between Cecchini and Piepho. How about the developer Rover who wants to plant 3000 homes on the peat dirt and breach the levies? Our own Supervisor brought a County employee (we paid for) to the meeting to try and convince the public the best thing for Discovery Bay was 3000 more homes. How about Mr. Pantages who needed a no ski zone to build his waterfront properties? Mark Doran is correct it time for the Piepho to go. Let us sing:
BYE BYE MARY, BYE BYE SHOW, BYE BYE MARY, WE’RE GLAD TO SEE YOU GOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Mark, I’m not David. Thanks for paying attention when I made that clear. If you have a bone to pick with him, pick up the phone. I believe you have the number. Please tell me you’re are not tracking on the idea that the CSD enacted that ordinance.
Mr. Barber, that’s another of your rambling jobs which is verrrry difficult to follow. Indian Slough is a narrow, public waterway. It was a judgment call(supported by the Sheriff and Marine Patrol, btw) to be proactive with the ordinance. It was a “surprise” as you put it because you had lived here for 10 years, basically been asleep and only got into the discussion late. Who’s faults is that and whom do you expect to be holding your hand at all times?
As a public waterway, it’s available for use by anyone, not just DB residents. So the belief that some consensus within the community is or should have been the main factor behind the decision is selfishly flawed. California’s population is projected to increase by 40% by 2032 and Contra Costa County by some 47% in that same period. Those are documents available on the Calif Finance Dept website, btw. Look them up. Those are new people with access to the Delta and Indian Slough. So rather than wait for the body bags to be zipped up and the life flights to take off, the Supervisors took action in the interest of PUBLIC SAFETY. Not just Jeff Barber’s safety, not just in the interest of water skier interests, but in the interest of ALL THE PUBLIC AS IT RELATES TO SAFETY.
But feel free to continue arguing how you got screwed, Mr. B. And since you’re such a boating education advocate, just how many courses have you conducted or advertised since you brought that issue up? Or is this another case of you suggesting work for other people to do? Your pathetic attempt to put the unfortunate jet skier accident at the feet of the CSD and I believe even the current President’s lap in particular shows just how low you will stoop. That incident didn’t even happen in that area.
Ruth, signs are posted with permission. Do you not understand the difference between getting permission for a sign versus a campaign donation? If you doubt they have permission, call the sign owners(Ie. Hofmann) and simply ask. Guilt by association is a tactic for the intellectual lightweights. Sure you want to go there? Because you clearly “don’t get it”, Developers are voters too. They can get some of the Supervisor’s time too just like you can. You went AWOL on reality with the Cecchini reference. Is there a proposal on the table we don’t know about our you just dreaming something up? Remember, 47% increase in CoCo population is predicted in the coming 3 decades. This is the flaw in the no growth argument. People like yourself and Mr. B want to put blinders on and look at very narrow current events which support their argument. They want to set long term policies based on short term phenomena(ie. the housing/credit correction). That’s classic stupid planning. You can’t build some imaginary wall around all of DB and think you aren’t going to build another house or allow another resident to move in.
Trying to tie Pantages to the no tow is lame, but in my experience not at all beneath the low handed tactics of this group. Go ahead and try. We’ll add it to your list of failures later.
No time for nonsense ? spineless still hiding behind your email but you have some great points!
Have you read the DBCSD business plan for 2006- 2009?
Or any of the documents that I have mentioned in this childest blog at best?
where can we meet so I can hand you the documents for your objective and educated view?
I din’t remember any mention about no growth but only “planned growth” with the community fully engauged and informed.
I havn’t seen anywhere the plans to improve our transportation infastructure, police or fire services, new schools and plans to keep our scores above average since we pay above average taxes that have not yielded additional benefits!!!
I don’t blame the Mary and David show for all the above but we should be using our political influence in the areas that our community is asking for.
That is why the reference to the “no tow zone”. Do we have the same motivation in our voices about “planned growth” (not yet)
stick with the issues and if YOU still have the need to get personal then let’s meet in person so I can better understand you view.
Respectfuly
Marki
It does not matter if the “nonsense” blather comes from bob mankin, david piepho or some new recruit to their silly club. We all know daivd doles out the marching orders and probably provides a nice reach-around for a job well done. We also know that whoever the writer (s)is they are afraid to be tied to the piepho camp. We also know that david piepho conducts his own affairs while being paid by whoever he works for. Last year he called me on a Friday afternoon and specifically said he was at work, the call lasted at least 30 minutes. So either he was telling a lie or cheating his employeer….either way a piss poor way for an elected official to behave.
You so proudly mentioned the Sheriff (you despise) supported the no-tow debacle. Well that is just not true. The Sheriff himself twice on the same day told the BoS that that water sports was not the problem (check for yourself it is a matter of public record). I know you hate all things sheriff but the guy happens to also be a CA Dept of Boating and Waterways Commissioner so he does indeed have credibility in this area.
By saying the DB resident was not killed proximate to DB so it essentially does not matter, completely highlights your ignorance of the matter and makes you a perfect fit for team piepho. The accident occurred by the railroad bridge that you can see from DB. Do you think the behavior that lead to the death was confined to just where it happened? The accident may have been prevented if the type of behavior that caused the accident had been the target of the CSD/BoS. Other counties in CA that that operate under the same public waterway law making statutes as this county have taken action to prohibit the exact activity that caused the death. This was pointed out in advance to the piephos and to your friend shannon murphy but they were too stubborn to listen. Once again this year I brought this issue up and it fell on deaf ears. Maybe since you are so into boating safety you could work with me to get something done to help prevent another tragedy.
Maybe in the process you can lean how risk and public health/safety matters are handled in the real world. Risk exists in everything we do and touch, the challenge is managing that risk while still allowing for products and actions to take place. Statics and the study of probability are how all well informed bodies/agencies determine how and when to set limits. In this situation the piephos had an agenda, attempted to make-up facts to support their position and ignored the real information and the guidance of those who bothered to do research. Once again proving that piepho is not qualified to be supervisor.
Your continual blind acceptance that some prediction (not a scientific study of probability) that county will continue grow at a rapid pace is a terrible shame and another reason why your clan needs not to be in government. In the shape that this county is in and in this corner of the county in particular, the growth numbers you spout cannot be supported without compromising the environment and the quality of life of every single resident. That is just not acceptable to me. Maybe for you as a good socialist that is ok but not for me and not for most people. You mentioned a wall, not a bad idea but there are much better ways to manage growth in challenged/sensitive geographic situations. Do you think Santa Barbara County officials will be welcoming with open arms the same population growth you speak of? No indeed, they are smart enough to set proper barriers and employ proactive leadership. Yes, I once again use that pesky “leadership” word. I know you hate it but it works….tell your boss to try it sometime.
Now the wind has died so guess what….I’m going to take my life in my hands and go for a ski (while not any public agency parole).
Mr. B, if you actually did some homework instead of just pulling this stuff out of your arse, you’d understand the demographic and predictive studies done by the California Dept. of Finance are fairly accurate when later compared to actual census figures. In fact, the historical margin of error is quite small and is noted in their reports. But if you’ve got some better “magic math”, then share it with the nice folks or just STFU(there’s your reach around, Bud).
Several reports available here for review, both current census and future predictions:
http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/DEMOGRAP/ReportsPapers/ReportsPapers.php
So whether you like it or not, we as a County in the unincorporated areas are looking at nearly a 50% bump in population in our lifetimes. Deal with it or continue to stick your head in the sand or wherever else it is you happen to keep yours(I have my own suspicions).
So you have publicly berated Piepho again and again for supposedly not talking to you and now you’re here complaining because he did talk to you? Ummm, that schizophrenia thing working for you? Do you have any clue, any clue at all how 24 hour shifts for firemen work and what personal time is acceptable on those? Or are you the clown who sits in front of Safeway/Starbucks and badmouths a fireman on duty who might patronize said establishments “on the taxpayer dime” as you put it? You fault them for cooking and eating on the taxpayer dime as well? What about that sleeping portion of the 24 hr shift. I guess that really torques you, huh? I asked David Piepho about this issue since you raised it and he tells me both you and Mr. Doran have called him at his place of employment. But now you’re turning around and badmouthing an activity you initiated? Just a couple of upstanding guys, you two.
You do understand that Board of Supervisors meetings are recorded and available on their website? Do I need to dig for you the Sheriff’s comments that they fully supported the no tow ordinance or do you want to concede now that you “might be mistaken” on that one? I can supply the date and the time stamp in the video if think I’m bluffing.
The very unfortunate jet ski accident occurred in another County, Einstein(San Joaquin, in this case). So explain to the nice people here how your ranting and raving before the CSD was somehow going to prevent that. Just to jog that bag-o-rocks brain of yours in a refresher: http://www.brentwoodpress.com/article.cfm?articleID=16999 So wrong County and wrong railroad bridge both. You’re 0 for 2.
Or you could be referring to the mechanical failure incident that happened around the same time? Yup, nothing like berating the local volunteer community leadership to prevent those sorts of incidents, right Mr. B??
You haven’t posted one accurate piece of information in the weeks I’ve seen your name showing up here. It’s 100% guaranteed, certified horseshit. And to suggest you would “opine” on no tow only because I mentioned it is beyond hysterical. It’s taken me a full day to stop laughing.
Way to keep in on topic Barber. You got any fresh OPEB lies to share or are you all done?
Miss “no time for nonsense”,
For the record I returned a call and have several documents that you have not seen.
Do you want to meet so I can hand them to you? Including email requests?
My reference of Davids personal time was not the issue. I have many firefighters as very close friends and their job is tough especialy times like now with the huge fire south. I see that your name calling is your method to show your manhood so don’t expect a meeting.
I have read most of your comments from last week and you may have some valid points but they are being missed because you are still hiding behind a name and have not requested to meet and get the documents needed for your educated opinion.
No nonsense should say no backbone, tough guy!!
Facts are facts, Mark. Perhaps in some parallel reality you think they are diminished because they are posted by an alias and I would be most curious to hear your explanation on how that works.
So you’re sitting on some super secret document all this time? oooooo, how very James Bond of you! Do share a doc number or a supplying agency as we wouldn’t want to get the impression you’re just pulling our leg, now would we?
How is is that all these nice County people and an army of legal staff can generate MACs and CSDs for all these decades and it takes all of these years for some Joe Aveage Citizen(you) to come along and find out they’ve been doing it wrong? Wow, we’ll probably owe some great debt of gratitidue to you when this is all over for straightening out the legal beagles. Thanks Mark!
Just a friendly suggestion, go back through the threads here and read the recycled talking points that have already been exhausted, then scratch them off the email tree list. Repeating them alter they’ve been thoroughly debunked makes you look slow or just plain stupid and we can’t have that.Better yet, you could really impress the pants off people by doing a 180 and trying positive campaigning for Houston, but I guess you wouldn’t be a dyed in the wool Guy campaigner with that approach.
Finally, I think the psychology term for calling someone “spineless” while harping on name calling is called projection. That or just being a hypocrit, I can’t recall. It would be a wonderful breath of fresh air if we could have an honest discussion about the issues and skip the personal jabs, but your people didn’t have an interest in that approach. I trust that no one is holding a gun to your head making you read this dribble, so don’t if it offends you so.
Say, how about that OPEB deal, huh? There’s my obligatory, but pathetic attempt to get back on topic
re: The nonsense post of 5/24. Settle down nonsence…I’m afraid you are going to stoke out on me then who would entertain the readers of this blog?
The fact that you place such credibility on your population growth prediction is all the more reason to make sure it does happen. Just because it is predicted does not mean we should sit by and watch our quality of life destroyed. I am not a socialist (or spineless) so yes indeed I will say “not in my back yard”. Can you honestly tell me that this corner of the county and the areas proximate to the Delta are suitable to the type of growth you are stating? I figure if you all had your way you would just fill the Delta with dirt to make room for more tract housing. I have heard Houston say he does not support growth before infrastructure. Clearly piepho can not make that claim. One more reason to move beyond the status quo.
All I can say about d. piepho’s personal activity on the public’s time is that if he has to lie about it there must indeed be a big problem. Let me say this very clearly…..I have never ever placed a phone call to him…. at NO time, NEVER. I have no idea where he works and would have no way or desire to call him at his job, on his cell phone or any other place. In fact he may be one of the last people on earth I would ever chose to call. The fact that you/he say I called him destroys any hope for the credibility you desperately crave.
Yes, I know the BoS meetings are recorded that is why I said the Sheriff himself is on record. His comments were made subsequent to comments from persons on his staff and his comments were supported by those who opposed the 24/7/365 ordinance. I know you have deep personal disdain for the Sheriff but he said what he said and you can not change it. Please supply the date and time of the Sheriff’s entire appearance. As I recall he spoke twice on the same day.
Is “bag-o-rocks brain” a technical term or just another thing an anonymous person says when he can be a big man and hide behind his computer screen. As for which county the person died in…please do not tell me that you don’t know how close the county line is to DB. From my house I can see the railroad bridge which is the vicinity of the tragedy. What if the accident had happened a short distance in the other direction? Let me say it one more time, it is my contention that if the CSD/BoS had put their effort into meaningful limits/signage/education (like other CA counties) that targeted the exact circumstances of this accident then the possibility exists IMO that this particular tragedy could have been avoided. If you are so unfamiliar with boating and the circumstances of this accident to think that what happened had not been a pattern of behavior then you should really not be commenting on important topics like this.
I do agree with you that I have said all I care to/need to on the no-tow fiasco other than commenting when you fail to delver the clip that shows our elected sheriff (and CA DBW Commissioner) speaking in front of the BoS making the point that I referenced.
Now lets move on to something germane to the election. Why don’t you tell your boss gal that at the Tuesday candidates forum she should, in her prepared remarks, tell us why she does not have a college education yet she is qualified to deal with complex financial matters. Is it that she just sits back and does what others tell her? Is it that she has some superior genius brain that allowed her to skip higher education? I would like to hear a real answer to that question and Tuesday is a perfect time. No answer, no guts, more hiding. Maybe she has a valid reason that would end the speculation.
I think a recall you spouting off about positive campaigning so I assume your boss will, on Tuesday evening, be publicly rebuking the unions for their Houston hit piece. How can you credibly talk about positive campaigning if your gal continues to lap up the unions low end tactics?
Oh, I can’t forget to thank you once again providing insight into my physiological condition(s). You must be very educated/experienced in the field to be able to deliver such precise diagnosis. Must be difficult to be so perfect and have to contend with all of us mentally damaged individuals. Maybe we should even feel more sorry for you…it must be so hard. But when you have a moment could you please list for me re-post all the mental problems you have diagnosed me as having? I think if you put them all in one post the situation will be crystal clear.
Disclaimer: This message was not typed while on any public payroll and not in the company of my therapist.
So what were we talking about ?
Oh ya, The Grand Jury Critisizing the CURRENT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS for thier LACK OF MANAGEMENT……..
Let’s get back to G.J. talk …………please
No time for nonsense,
The documents that have missed by most are the formation documents (public record that nobody else has looked at to understand the scope of responsibilities) that spell out the Bi-laws, the sphere of influence and jurisdiction of the DBCSD.
My points have been that even the legal team for the DBCSD has warned them to stay focused on the areas that they have influence on. Those are not my words but the attorneys that represent the board. The tie that I have spoken about is that the BOS has direct influence to LAFCO and DBCSD through the Peiphos and I don’t believe that “our ” best interests have been represented. The no ski zone was the wake up call for the community. (shame on Us)
The vote and continued legal action will resolve most of these issues.
Using the words “spineless” helped me get into the same level thinking and was a failed attempt to get you to come out of the closet and visable.
Still hiding!
Mr. B, stay with me, Buddy. That bipolar thing is making you really hard to follow.
I gave you a hyperlink to the California Department of Finance website. On it are reports financed and researched by……….wait for it……….the Department of Finance. They are not my growth estimate figures. Comprende’? Those documents are widely used for all sorts of planning statewide, so your continued denial isn’t making you look very sharp here.
I know you have been told this repeatedly, but once again and reeeeeal sloooooow now, the state has anti-NIMBY laws. You can stomp your feet, you can pound on that CSD podium and get the blood pressure up in that shiny little head of yours all you want, but you don’t get to demand that private property within the urban limit line is totally off limits to building because you say so. Deal with it.
The best you or I or anyone else can hope for or is have a say in what conditionals will be put the proposal that ultimately comes before us. So get proactive and try to influence it in a positive way or shut the hell up when you get something you aren’t happy with. Stopping growth altogether is nothing but a delusional fairy tale in your mind.
So now you’re claiming you never have talked to Piepho, you don’t have any desire to, but you’re repeatedly on record as complaining because he won’t communicate with you??? Geez, don’t you ever get dizzy in all that spin.
The Sheriff is on record as stating Indian Slough is the most dangerous stretch of water on the Delta. Period. Hence, the ordinance. A recent phone call to the Sheriff’s Department confirmed the ordinance was the totally appropriate thing to do. You can spout whatever pandering BS you want to Mr. B, but that facts are the facts and it’s recorded for anyone who wants to dig it up and watch. Your “recollection” of the accident is 100% wrong. I don’t know what drug induced stupor you might be under, but Bullfrog Marina is a good 6-7 miles away from Indian Slough. You’re grasping at straws here. And perhaps I overestimated how much you and your neighbor Mark talk. Here he’s rambling some nonsense about sphere of influence and here you are suggesting the CSD operate outside of that on some boating course with no resources or manpower to pull it off. Again, what’s keeping you from organizing those like the good little Boy Scout that you are? Don’t you need another merit badge for that Weeblo rating or something?
That candidates forum last night was a beautiful thing, wasn’t it? What was your favorite part, Mr. B? Mine was right after you tried to set up Piepho with that education question you’ve trotted around here like week old fish and Houston comes right out and says it’s a cheap issue to bring up. Damn! Must suck when your own candidate backs the bus over you.
Piepho doesn’t have to rebuke the unions for anything over the mailer. It’s all true and it didn’t come from her campaign in the first place. That’s an independent group. Did you read Houston’s replies in “Let’s set the record straight”? Please point out to me where on his website he categorically denies the allegations. Oops, that’s right, he doesn’t! So how is that a hit piece?
Oh, and since you’re struggling to find Guy’s stance on growth, which depends on where he’s speaking, what day of the week it is and which way the wind is blowing, here’s one from the CCTimes last week:
“….And Guy’s comments are ironic given the fact that the morning he declared his candidacy for supervisor, he asked me to support him,” Koch said. “He also indicated at the time that he had a pro-growth record and would be a strong supporter of New Farm.”
Taken from the Lisa Vorderbrueggen article on 5/22/08.
Perhaps a clue should have been his campaign contributors list? Do you honestly think those folks with that amount of money invested in Houston don’t come calling at some point?
For a refresher, because you’re pointy little ears probably didn’t hear it last night, Piepho has approved NO HOUSING in her term in office. That coupled with the fact that she co-authored the urban limit line just shows what BS your claims are that you’re trying to trade a pro-growth candidate for a no-growth one.
Mark, I’ve read your post several times and still can’t make sense of it. How about just bringing the docs forward at a meeting and “surprising” everyone. Should be good for a few laughs, huh? The no tow ordinance is not a Piepho thing. Again, an issue clarified dozens of times. I was thinking you were a tick smarter or had at least a little more common sense than Mr. B, but with that comment perhaps I’m giving you too much credit.
Still smiling!
I have read these comment threads carefully, and I have to say two things. First of all, I have to give kudos to the editor for the patience shown to some of the abusive anonymous commenters.
The second point is a legal one, as point of clarification: in the private sector and business world, it is usually the case that when parties settle some litigation, they are sworn to some non-disclosure agreement. To incessantly taunt Guy Houston to reveal terms of the settlement is akin to asking him to break the agreement, which he lawfully cannot do because it would be a breach of contract. To harp on this point, and to insinuate guilt is cowardice because he can’t defend himself from unfounded innuendo.
This does, though, make perfect sense that someone horribly unfamiliar with business and the private sector would stoop to such shameless rhetoric, and teaches me much about Supervisor Piepho’s trustworthiness, which about now is zero, zilch, nada.
Chastising someone for using an alias while using one……check. Careful, that abusive knife is double-edged.
You act as though I or the newspapers(who have also posed the questions) have never been exposed to a NDA or CDA or have any clue how they work. There would be little doubt Houston has one in place to keep the Plaintiffs from talking, but I’ve seen nothing to suggest the Plaintiffs have a reciprocal. Let’s not attempt to play on the public’s ignorance of the subject.
Were you a party to those negotiations to know one way or another? Seems to me that could put the issue to rest once and for all.
Mr. Houston was touting his “small business experience” last evening. My, how convenient to suggest one has that successful background when one doesn’t have to talk about it.
I speak my own opinions and post facts on my own time and through no official association or employ of the Piepho camp. For you, a lawyer, to have time to read and post during business hours strikes me as 1)you’ve got too much free time or 2)you were prompted.
No Sense, you are so full of B.S. it’s not even funny anymore. Piepho’s has stooped so low in her campain with inuendo, connotative type redoric, assumptions, and false accomplishments. It reminds me of a snake oil salesman. Quite frankly it scares me to think such a dishonest person may continue to be in charge of my tax dollars.
nonsence….wow another physiological insult and now you are accusing me of taking drugs and insulting my physical appearance. You sir are a very poor reflection on the community you claim to speak about. But I must say a nice fit for the candidate you serve. Remember I am just a private citizen, not a public figure. You might be better served directing your frustration toward those who matter.
Indeed my question last night about education was arguably “cheep” but it was directed at a cheep candidate. I thought you might applaud Houston for not wanting to be apart of aggressive tactics. Since this campaign is about cheep shots mine is just as fair as piepho’s. The difference is I put my name on mine.
As for her answer …….I did not go to collage because (her answers paraphrased):
1, Times were tough in Walnut Creek I had to go to work at age 18.
2, There is no rule that says a supervisor has to have a collage education
3, Many dead historical figures born in the 1800’s and before did not go to collage.
4, Bill Gates does not have a collage degree.
Give me a break. Her father was a lawyer with means (the family is currently litigating over his estate). No the supervisors job does not have an education requirement but just maybe this county has a record of electing unqualified supervisors and this is a big part of our financial dilemma. Comparing herself to dead presidents born 100 or more years ago is both egotistical and ridiculous. Comparing herself to Gates who dropped out of Harvard to develop a product and start a company that impacted the world is beyond comprehension and just plain absurd. I pretty much knew her answer would come out like it did. But I really asked it to see if there would be even a hint of humility and to hear what the message that she sends to kids would be. Certainly there was no humility and a very poor message. She said she had to go to work at 18, fine but many including myself and many friends who desired certain jobs worked their way through collage. Clearly this women has no business having anything to do with education or my tax dollars. She should have been honest and said “I was too cool for school” and could not be bothered with such a waste of time.
Now I ave to say that I can no longer go back and forth with team nonsense on these points. I still reserve the right to opine from time to time but I have said my piece on these issues and I do not have the time to waste or desire to keep bob and david all wound up. They will just have to find someone else to take their aggressions out on.
Ut oh, Jeff, don’t sick those idiots on me
I attended the Discovery Bay Chamber campaign forum last night. Ms Piepho came across downright angry and rude. When the education question came up she struggled to answer it. When Mr. Houston followed with the same question, he could have used it as an opportunity against her, but instead he did say it was arguably cheap to ask. That says something about his character. It was quite obviously by her behaviour that Ms. Piepho feeling the pressure big time.
If you go back through the No Nonsense (aka David Piepho) comments in these blogs, you will experience first hand what the residents of this community have to contend with under the thumb of the Piepho’s. We are treated like mindless idiots! If you ask a question or challenge them you are raked over the coals in a demeaning manner (much the same way Non Nonsense blogs). I have not only seen this behaviour but been have also been on the receiving end.
This situation is unique in Discovery Bay, Byron and Knightsen over the other communities because we have to endure the behaviour of both Peipho’s…At the other end of district III they only have Ms Piepho to contend with.
As a supporter of Mr. Houston we also have to endure the childish behaviour of Ms. Piephos merry band of one. We put up campaign signs and he takes them down or cuts them down. You have to be pretty desperate to stoop that low, since it is against the law.
Also, why do you supposed the unions in this county are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on vicious negative campaign material against Mr. Houston. The obvious answer is, based on her track record in 2008, so far the unions have walked away with the candy store. She has proven that she is weak and in over her head on protecting the county residents interests, so why wouldn’t they want to keep her around. Pretty pathetic!
Mr. B do you get the irony of misspelling “cheep” three times while lecturing on education? Come on, laugh with me.
But once again you missed the boat. The point is having a plaque on a wall does not make one “life smart”. I work with highly educated individuals as a regular routine and I’m amazed that some of them haven’t been taken out while crossing at a red light. They lack that sort of common sense. A degree does not automatically equip one for the realities of life, nor does the lack of one necessarily hinder one’s abilities or potential.
If you could get over this inferiority complex and actually talk to people, you might find that John Nejedly’s employment had little to do with what was offered to Mary Piepho at the age of 18. Do you have any approximation of the money involved in the family dispute(or even who’s money is in dispute) or are you engaging in your usual MO of guessing?
On the subject of tax dollars and police services, you heard your candidate state he would have a private meeting with the Sheriff. Umm, weren’t you the loud mouth complaining about secretive deals??
He’s already pretty much said he doesn’t think the Sheriff has had enough funding. So let’s throw good money after bad. Do they teach that in MBA school? A 5 minute read of the budget and some simple math in one’s head and you reach the conclusion Disco Bay contributes millions annually to the Sheriff’s budget……..and we get 1 Deputy for that. But Houston thinks an audit is required to see if we’re getting our money’s worth???? Damn, there’s no lack of naiveté in that boy.
And Christmas came early this year with this little mass email jewel from you earlier today. It underscores your obsession with the Piephos is rooted in the no tow ordinance.
“Greetings,
This email is a reminder that we have the opportunity on Tuesday June 3rd to remove Mary Piepho from office. I think it is appropriate timing as we near the one year anniversary of her quest to enact the 24/7 no-tow zone.
Although the June 3rd election is referred to as a primary, given that it is a two person race for Supervisor District III, if Guy Houston wins with 50%
+ 1 he takes Piepho’s seat without having to run in the general election.
This election is expected to have an extremely low turn-out so it is very important that those who are interested in the outcome make the effort to vote and encourage others to do so. This is the type of election that every vote does indeed count.
Unless we take action and vote her out, the next time Piepho decides to impose a law without doing research or slam through a Delta use restriction on the QT we may not prevail.”
Game, set, match, Mr. B
This is precisely why you are a danger to our community. Because your motivations are selfish and short-sighted. You would leave us with no local representation taking the community BACKWARDS a generation. You would sacrifice opportunity and a watchful eye over the whole of this community’s needs for the sake of your own selfish personal recreational needs.
I respect the Sheriff of this County. I believe his opinion is very important to each and every citizen in Contra Costa County. So when the Sheriff says;
““I’ve lost all trust in Mary Piepho.” Rupf is also quoted in the mailer saying, “Our County is not safe in the hands of Mary Piepho and that’s why I am 110% in support of Guy Houston.”
His concerns have made it an easier decision of whom to vote for while being on the fence about both candidates.