Libel, Part Duh

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Cat Jumps Out Of Bag TWICE!

Oh, Gosh, what' this?  I see everything twice!  Front page of the Tribune Local section, "Online note alerts supervisors," by Bob Cuddy, about the "Alleged conflict of interest involving public works director draws board's attention." Yes, Paavo & Maria are now officially official since the Tribune has apparently been forced to pay attention and now the Board of Superviors is looking into things -- "reacting to an online posting" -- is how Bob put it.

But, Uh, Bob, I don't think Cal Coast News is properly known as an "online posting," is it? I think's it's more an Online Newspaper, and the story was posted by Karen Velie, with her name on it and all.  An "online posting" makes it sound like something that popped up in a random note in the comment section of the Tribune's online edition or even the comment section of this blog.  You know, some anonymous comment tossed into the mix.  So "online posting" doesn't quite fit.

Or, perhaps it wasn't some wierd, random, anonymous "online posting," that caused the BOS to "react," since several members of the BOS have expressed disdain for and dismissed as trash anything appearing in blogs or other online sources.  Maybe the Board of Supervisors are actually reacting to the email (below), sent a few days ago to the BOS with a request it be put in the public record.:

"Dear Chairman Hill and Board Members:

Please place this letter in the official public record, to be included for consideration at your next Board meeting.

This letter serves as an official request that the County Board of Supervisors reopen a 2009 investigation and inquiry into allegations of ethics violations and wrong-doing by its current Public Works Director, Paavo Ogren.

As a prior elected official for the Los Osos Community Services District (2004-2008), I filed a formal complaint with your board regarding Ogren's handling of public money and the Los Osos wastewater project in the spring of 2009 - this formal complaint remains open and ongoing. I appeared in person before the Board and public on numerous occasions; I wrote letters, provided public testimony and provided supporting documents to your Board and County Counsel.

When I asked repeatedly (by email and phone call) to meet with each Board member during their regular open office hours, in order to discuss details of what I had discovered as an elected official, my requests to meet, by all five members, were repeatedly denied.

County Counsel Warren Jensen provided a report to the Board in the fall of 2009 to supposedly dismiss my formal complaint, yet his report ignored all but one of the allegations raised by it. Any mention or response to the allegations made about conflict of interest, divided loyalties, violation of design build and public contracting codes, ethical violations, backdating and awarding no-bid contracts to prior business associates, improper contract procurement and selection of engineering firms for large county contracts, etc. were all missing from his report.

I request that my complete 2009 complaint, in its entirety (approx. 500 original pages, and omitting all duplicated pages), be reincorporated into the public record again today. All allegations remain valid to this day and take on additional importance with new revelations that have just surfaced this week, regarding a non-disclosed, long term personal relationship between Mr. Ogren and a currently elected official of the LOCSD (who resigned today). This non-disclosed personal relationship may have compromised all decisions made regarding the Los Osos Project, the water supply for Los Osos, the ISJ discussions and any and all business matters between these two public agencies during the past few years.

I request that Mr. Ogren, an “at-will" employee, be immediately and permanently removed from all decisions regarding Los Osos and that he be placed on leave while a complete investigation takes place. I request that an independent investigator be retained by the County, similar to the procedure followed by your Board in 2009, when it was discovered that a high ranking public employee (G. Wilcox) was involved in a similar non-disclosed personal relationship with a public employee/official, where both were also in positions of making and influencing financial decisions using public money. This matter was investigated by an independent personnel specialist in the summer of 2009, and Ms. Wilcox was terminated.

Just like the Wilcox matter, this is not a matter that can be addressed by County Counsel. Mr. Jensen may have a personal relationship with Mr. Ogren that limits his abilities to be fair and impartial in this matter. By refusing to investigate the bulk of citizen concerns already raised about potential legal and ethical breaches made by Ogren in the past, he has already demonstrated an inability to provide impartial review. An independent investigator is required to evaluate whether Mr. Ogren’s history of multiple and repeated instances of questionable ethical behavior, including the most recent activities and actions, rise to a level of criminal code violations.

Nothing less is acceptable in light of yet another high-level County scandal; swift action by you and your Board not only protects the County, the taxpayers, but the integrity of your position and the public process.

Thank you.

Most Sincerely,

Lisa Schicker , Past President and Board Member, LOCSD 2004-2008"

Bets are now being placed as to how quickly County Counsel will shove this (above) complaint off the table, and how quickly County Administrator Jim Grant can investigate the Paavo & Maria story and dismiss it all as baseless. 

O.K., not exactly baseless.  Karen Velie's story spilled the beans about the relationship between these two and now the Tribune confirms that with quotes from Maria as saying that she and "Ogren have been dating for six months" but that the sewer isn't the basis for their relationship so they don't discuss sewerish things. Which is part II of the Velie story, the allegation that this "relationship," while Maria was on the CSD Board, presented a possible conflict of interest, especially since the CSD and the County are involved in ongoing (ISJ) water litigation matters as well as the ongoing sewer project. Since Maria resigned from the CSD Board, that allegation is now moot. 

But now that the cat has jumped out of the bag TWICE -- first with the Cal Coast News story (which was re-posted and linked on this blog) and now with Bob Cuddy's story -- perhaps the County, in the form of Jim Grant, can square away what, if any, county rules have been broken here and what can be classified as Walking While Stupid.

Meantime, I'm tickled by Cuddy's (actually, the Tribune's) use of the term "online posting," that makes NO MENTION of Cal Coast News or Karen Velie.  The reader would have NO IDEA that the online newspaper existed since it is not mentioned by name in any way, shape or form.  Which reminds me of how proper ladies were taught never to mention their husband's mistresses by name and only refered to them distastefully as "that other woman," or "that. . . creature." So, silence rules, which is what the Tribune did with the Wallace story that Cal Coast News first broke as well.  No mention of that when they did the follow up.  Or, should I say, follow after?

Well, stay tuned.  There'll be some huffing and puffing and some cat-in-bag noises, then the County will come out with a report that says, "Everything's fine, no laws were broken, nothing to see here, time to move along." 

That's the SLOTown way.

Karen Velie of Cal Coast News Does It Again!

Now, there’s a crackerjack reporter . . . with a can opener!

Let’s see if the Tribune does any follow up? Oh, right. What was I thinking? Ah, yes. People behaving badly here at the corner of Peyton Place and SewerVille.

http://calcoastnews.com/

http://www.920kvec.com/pages/1051993.php

Sex and the Los Osos sewer

June 17, 2011

By KAREN VELIE

A vehicle crash into a San Luis Obispo creek has revealed the extent of a personal relationship between a top county official and a Los Osos Community Services District board member—raising allegations of a possible conflict of interest.

Accusations that Paavo Ogren, San Luis Obispo County Public Works Director and Maria Kelly, vice president of the Los Osos Community Services District, have been conspiring to help push through a $200 million sewer project have surfaced because the couples’ teenage children, from former marriages, drove a car down a 20-foot embankment into San Luis Creek on June 14.

“In the context of the waste water project for the community, Ms. Kelly has been a proxy for Paavo Ogren,” said Jeff Edwards, a 30-year resident of Los Osos.

Thursday, as suspicions grew that Kelly had been staying in San Luis Obispo with Ogren rather than living in the district she represents as required to serve on the board, Kelly abruptly stepped down from her position as vice president of the district.

“Unfortunately, as I evaluate my current situation and the needs of my children, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that I must immediately step down, since I do not believe I can provide the commitment and attention that the Board of Directors requires and that the community of Los Osos deserves,” Kelly said in her letter of resignation.

Ogren’s son is presently facing a felony drunk driving charge after driving Kelly’s son and two other teens into the creek. Police said the teens resided in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero. None provided Los Osos as their place of residence.

Ogren and Kelly began spending time together about two to three years ago, around the time Kelly was elected to the board. Over the years, the couple was observed discussing strategy prior to meetings causing some to question if a conflict of interest existed.

In 2010, Kelly left her husband, transferred her children to San LuisObispo schools and moved in with Ogren. Every other week, she would spend a few days with her children at her former home in Los Osos.
Kelly and her ex-husband are attempting to sell their former residence.

For years, Kelly has advocated in favor of Ogren’s vision for the Los Osos sewer plant – a $200 million controversial sewage system slated to serve about 12,500 people.

“I’m happy to be here and I’m happy to be here in support of the county — and I’m happy to be in support of county staff. I’ve been a broken record on that they’ve been extremely professional, helpful, diligent and very responsive to the community,” Kelly said during a September 2009 San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting.

“I already had to take one job due to budget cuts at Cal Poly. I’m willing to take another. I love Los Osos that much. I’m willing to do what I have to do to keep my family there and raise my children,” Kelly added at the time.

Meanwhile, CalCoastNews has learned Ogren’s home is allegedly a frequent after school “party house ” where teens go to smoke and drink. One parent of a teen who was in the accident, said they have found the teens partying after school at Ogren’s home on several occasions.

Ogren and Kelly did not return requests for comment.

Hip Bone Connected to the Shoulder Bone . . .

Karen Velie’s story over at Cal Coast News should be old news to Los Ososians. I especially love Able Maldonado’s suggestion that if the local DA doesn’t look into this matter of the Wallace Group, (seriously, like a “real” case, like actually interviewing key people involved) then folks should contact the state Attorney General or the Governor. Bwa-hahahaha. I never knew Abel had such a droll sense of humor.

Read it and weep, at http://calcoastnews.com/2010/09/allegations-of-misdeeds-dog-the-sewage-plant/

Can I Have Mustard With That?

Let’s see, Meg Whitman’s spent $119 million for her bid to be governor. In 2008, there was about 17 million registered Ca. voters. If she just paid each voter to vote for her, how much would that be per registered voter? Or maybe just pay Dems & Independents to vote for her, let’s say 8 million. How much would that be? Meg’s always going on and on about how she would kick-start the economy again. So, what could be that? Talk about trickle-down.

Shhhhh, DO NOT Inform Your Readers

Few days ago I posted a link to Ron Crawfords blog (http://www.sewerwatch.blogspot.com/) wherein Ron spills the beans over an important law allowing for home detention for qualified prisoners – at a HUGELY cheaper price – and how that information had been withheld from the staff report to the BOS who were only given the option of spending tons of money to build a new jail expansion or face overcrowding & etc. As Ron reported, “staff” told him that they would include that in their upcoming BOS presentation.

This morning, however, the Tribune reports on the presentation, but makes NO MENTION of this third option. But here’s what it does note: Vince Morici (administrative analyst) and Sheriff’s Dept. Chief Deputy Rob Reid “warn that timing is important, insofar as the county’s ability to receive state money is concerned.”

Yup, that’s how you Empire Build here in Chinatown: Ignore cheaper alternatives, “forget” to bring that information up in your staff report, (you can always count on the Trib to overlook critical information that you “forgot” to mention as well – no need to keep the taxpayers in the loop) then “warn that timing is important, insofar as the county’s ability to receive state money is concerned,” as in We Gotta Build NOW (and incur an additional $1.6 million in ongoing operating costs) Or We’ll All Die In The Streets Like Dawgs (and pay no attention to a much cheaper, and perhaps better, alternatives. They don’t involve bricks & mortar Empire Building! )

On A Happier Note

Café Musique, that grandly bizarre and wonderful quasi gypsy/caberet-ish group of extraordinary musicians (On their last CD they played “Hernando’s Hideaway” with a straight face and made you really hear that song as a piece of music for the first time.) will be celebrating the release of their second CD and will be performing at the Steynberg Gallery (SLO) on Friday, Sept 24, at 7:30. Tickets $15. Can call (547-0278) to reserve a ticket via credit card or pay at the door.