Sun Reverses Support for Berry and Schwab..

In the Past both local news papers the Press Enterprise and the Sun Telegram have refused to address or investigate the Political Management of Grand Terrace and have been all but cheerleaders for sitting officials no matter what or who they are. They have in the past failed to be a check on government. Let's hope the Press and Sun will aid in forwarding the investigation into the hands of the AG's Office or the FBI for a Full Investigation of Collusion and Conspiracy on ALL the ACTORS in the Crime and the Cover Up.

It defies logic that Berry acted alone on the tinting decision and all the actions required to have a Purchase Order, Work Order and Funds Released, Check Written and so forth. The City Council approves the Check Register, and I do recall the tinting being mentioned at a City Council Meeting.

Out with both city managers
Posted: 06/30/2009 08:32:58 PM PDT
Sun Telegram Web Site.. Editorial


The Grand Terrace City Manager Smackdown has taken a sharp turn to the weird.
Former City Manager Tom Schwab, who stepped aside for medical reasons, revealed that Acting City Manager Steve Berry was suspected of embezzling city funds and filing false records in 2002.

Berry contends Schwab is using the 7-year-old scandal to discredit Berry and knock him out of contention for the permanent city manager job that Schwab apparently wants back.

The problem is, Schwab says he covered up the wrongdoing in January 2003 by quashing the criminal investigation of Berry, who was then assistant city manager.

That's supposed to make him look better than Berry?

Sorry, no, that makes him look just as bad or even worse.

The upshot is that neither Berry nor Schwab is ethically qualified to run the city of Grand Terrace. The City Council has opened the job and encouraged both Berry and Schwab to apply. Hopefully, there will be plenty of good candidates besides this pair.

According to sheriff's reports, Berry was suspected of having a work-release jail inmate and employees from the inmate's business tint the windows of city buildings and Berry's personal vehicle for profit in 2002, when the inmate was supposed to be performing community service. A purchase-order account at a wholesale window-tint company allowed the inmate to pick up supplies. Berry did not inform the Sheriff's Department of his arrangement with the inmate, and Berry was also suspected of defrauding San Bernardino County by falsely marking the inmate's attendance sheets to indicate he had shown up for work on days he didn't.

A county prosecutor examined a sheriff's detective's report and determined that charges of embezzlement, offering false instrument for record and corruption of record were warranted for Berry. But Schwab, acting on behalf of the city and without informing his City Council, declined to pursue criminal charges. The case was "cleared by exceptional means," according to the detective's report.

Schwab says now he didn't want to embarrass the city; it's just as likely he didn't want to embarrass himself by having Berry, whom he had hired in September 2001, charged with or convicted of embezzlement and falsification.

"I basically asked the Sheriff's Department not to pursue it," Schwab said. "As it turns out, I think it was a mistake."

No kidding? He thinks that covering up allegations that a high-ranking official of his city was embezzling funds from his city and falsifying documents was a mistake? We agree completely.

A big enough mistake to disqualify Schwab for the city manager's post.

Nor is Berry qualified, based on the loose ethics and terrible judgment he exercised in his deal with the inmate.

What about it, City Council? Don't the citizens of Grand Terrace deserve better than dishonesty and bad judgment?