I pledge allegiance to the sheriff of San Luis Obispo County, and to the independent report on the jail, for which the county stands to block from public access, as one, in front of Ian Parkinson, indivisible, with zero transparency and justice for nobody.
Is that the county’s new pledge of allegiance, or is it just me? It sure sounded like it at the May 15 SLO County Board of Supervisors meeting. The raging hot mess that is the SLO County Jail has put County Counsel Rita Neal in a tough position—according to Rita.
The good news? SLO County plans to spend at least an extra $2.3 million to augment jail mental and medical health care services in the 2018-19 budget year. Woohoo! All it took were some jail inmate deaths, an FBI civil rights investigation, and massive public outcry! That’s democracy in action, baby!
The bad news? I’m beginning to think that this supposed independent assessment on the jail’s mental and medical health care issues completed by San Diego County Jail Chief Medical Officer Dr. Albert Joshua—Rita’s nicknamed it “The Dr. Josh Report,” which is kinda cute—is a myth. I’ve been wondering why it hasn’t been released to the public for months now, and apparently so has 3rd District Supervisor Adam Hill.
“I would like to know when the board is going to get a copy of that,” Hill asked Rita and County Administrative Officer Wade Horton during the budget discussion as this office machine silently cheered on its favorite little minx. “I just want us to make informed budget decisions in June on that issue. It’s really important for us to have a good independent assessment on that.”
Wait. I think my carriage return just exploded. The Board of Supervisors hasn’t even seen the report!
Don’t worry, Wade basically told Hill, you’ll get that in August, along with staff recommendations from the team that has seen the report on just which private company to outsource health care at the jail to. Never mind that y’all are talking budgets in June and haven’t seen it yet. We gave you a summary already. Just use that. Trust us! We got you!
Except, there’s also an election that will be decided in June. The questions regarding health care at the jail have sparked a flaming dumpster fire that could actually wreck Sheriff Parkinson’s political career. Why are sheriffs elected anyway? It’s so stupid!
All the public knows about the Dr. Josh Report unicorn is this: you know that whole health care part of jail services? Well, it doesn’t have good oversight. Which, duh! Case-in-point: inmate Andrew Holland strapped in a chair for almost two days in January 2017 and dying from an embolism after being unstrapped. The sheriff has repeatedly stated that he knew nothing about it until Holland was actually dying. Because that’s a totally normal situation to put an inmate in—not! At least, I hope it’s not. Oversight? There is none. The county didn’t need to pay a consultant for that. I give my two cents for free every week!
How can supervisors make a decision to spend $2.3 million on augmenting jail services when they don’t know what exactly needs to change, well, other than “oversight”? It’s a management buzzword that lacks specificity. The county is projected to be $3.5 million short next year. How do we know that $2 million couldn’t be better spent elsewhere?
Who has oversight over Rita, Wade, and Ian anyway? Is it the elected members of the Board of Supervisors? Doesn’t look like it to me. Sounds like it’s Rita, Wade, and Ian making decisions—such as hiring public relations firm AMF Media to advise the county through dumpster fire mode—while the board is left in the dark, expected to trust the tried-and-true trio that pledges allegiance to the county’s best interest. Things continue to trickle out that imply the exact opposite.
“At this point, I don’t have the authority to make the report public,” Rita told Hill with eyes that pleaded him to shut up, shut up, shut up! “There’s that balance between transparency, and improving our system … and then the current pending claims and lawsuits … and the best way to go about looking out for the county’s best interests when it comes to litigation.”
Umm, quick question: Who’s supposed to authorize its release? Because I’d loooove to talk to them. You denied New Times‘ Public Records Act request for the Dr. Josh Report, saying it essentially falls under attorney-client privilege. I call BS!
Rita, you seem to be saying that—and please, excuse the generic term I’m about to use—there’s some bad stuff in that report. It’s the kind of excrement that when smeared on jail cell walls could cause the county to be liable to these inmates who have either passed away or feel that they’ve been treated in an inhumane manner.
However, from where I sit, there have already been public policy decisions made because of it, public money has already been spent on changes that have supposedly already been implemented at the jail based on the report’s contents, and there will be a public discussion about whether or not to spend more money on a recommendation from the sheriff based on this extremely not public independent assessment. Sounds like this unicorn should absolutely be a very public document. Δ
The Shredder pledges allegiance to the people. Send comments to shredder@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in May 17-27, 2018.
This is why its more important than ever that Jimmy Paulding be elected to the county Board of Supervisors. We need to end the dysfunction and the rancor and bring back balance, common sense and competence to the board.
At point theres little purpose in arguing with the trolls and lobbyists. What we need is people making sure that others send in their mail-in ballots or go to the polls on June 5.
Whether or not you live in district 4, it is vital that you let others know that you support Paulding and reiterate how important it is for people to vote in the upcoming election.
Jimmy Paulding is poised to be the moderating voice that will restore balance to the board and bring an end to the constant discord and dysfunction.
There is plenty of good reason both Republicans and Democrats have contributed mightily to Paulding’s campaign and are eager to see him elected and move up the political ladder and bring a new wave of political respect to the Central Coast.
I know it is a cliche, but in this case change really is called for. Paulding fits the bill perfectly.
If you are on the fence, please meet the man and learn the truth for yourself and not fall victim to the trolls and lobbyists who are eager to maintain the status quo and all the rotteness they love to exploit.
Rightword- if Lynn Compton should go because of this issue, then so should Bruce Gibson, right?
Also, Jimmy has already created rancor in his campaign and claims to be an independent when he is in fact a Progressive Dem and has taken money from them, Bruce Gibson, and Adam Hill.
The only civil race I’ve seen in the county, by the way, is the 2nd District Supervisor race between Gibson and Eckles. They are both to be commended for running good campaigns and not getting in the mud.
Mr. Paulding has run a fine campaign, perhaps better than any other supervisor candidate this century. He has gotten significant support from Republicans, Democrats and those who declined to state. He is handling his opponent respectfully but not naively. He doesnt mind taking the tough questions and answering them in a straightforward manner. This is a huge contrast to his opponent who whines and slithers her way through challenging questions and blames others for every one of her failings and frustrations.
Paulding seems as independent minded as any candidate running for any office in the county this year. I fully expect him to school Debbie Arnold and Adam Hill on how to better serve the public.
We need Pauldings moderating voice and vision to bring balance to our board and peace of mind to the people of the Central Coast. He has the skill, talent, real world work experienceand and natural leadership ability to bring a new level of respect to politics on the Central Coast.
If Paulding handles his job on the board even half as well as he has run his amazing campaign then the people of the central coast will be very well served.
There is no point in trying to argue with the anonymous trolls and behind the scene lobbyists who dread having an ethical and upright politician they cannot control representing the fourth district.
At this point its all about boots on the ground and making sure as many people send in their mail in ballot or get to the polls on June 5
Everyone who has met Jimmy should let their friends know what an ideal candidate he is and why they should do everything they can to make it certain that he prevails in this crucial election that may determine the health and welfare of our central coast for decades to come.
The insurance company that paid the 5 Million settlement over Andrew Hollands death did so based on the facts presented to it by the Sherriffs report, which has now been shown to be largely in error. At some point, they may want their 5 million back, based on misrepresentation by SLO County. The train wreck continues. New leadership is needed, vote Clayton for Sherriff.
Why aren’t the individual officers shown on the rather negative video still working ?
If bad behavior is tolerated, it will continue no matter how many ‘reforms’ or added supervision.