San Bernardino police officers criticize city officials on billboard

The San Bernardino police officers’ union took a very public shot at several of the bankrupt city’s elected officials with a billboard proclaiming, “Congratulations! You’ve made San Bernardino the WORST run city in America!”

The billboard featured photographs of Mayor Pat Morris and four of the seven city council members -- Wendy McCammack, Fred Shorett, Virginia Marquez and Rikke Van Johnson.

The sign referenced an article by financial news site 24/7 Wall Street on “The Best and Worst Run Cities in America,” which named San Bernardino as the worst-run city.

Three other council members -- John Valdivia, Chas Kelley and Robert Jenkins -- did not appear on the billboard.

The San Bernardino Sun reported that the council members featured on the billboard had angered the union by voting to look at the cost of outsourcing law enforcement services to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and for labor contracts that will reduce employee benefits.

San Bernardino has been in political turmoil since the council voted last summer to file for bankruptcy protection, citing a $46 million deficit.

Also this week, a group of San Bernardino residents announced that they are launching a “total recall” effort against the mayor, all seven city council members and City Attorney James Penman.

Scott Beard of the group backing the recall, San Bernardino Residents for Responsible Government, called the bankruptcy “the culmination of the failings of our city government.”

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