“The City’s actions demonstrate that the Police are the lowest priority to the City Manager and the Council Members.”
Below is the Public Comment made by former Beaumont Policeman Josh Galbraith. This marks the third time in four years that the Police Department has stood up and complained of abuse to the City Council. The first time was before the Raids and the Council ignored the P0lice. The second time was after the Raids and the Council ignored the Police.
While the Beaumont Police haven’t received raises in a decade; ‘Council Approved’ raises for all of their corrupt Staff. Phony City Manger Todd Parton, phony Finance Director Melana Taylor and phony Public Works Director Amer Jakher both received hefty raises after their first year. Elizabeth Gibbs Urtiaga now makes $200,000/year after Council created the position of ‘Transit Director’, and of course ‘Council Approved’ creating the position of ‘Assistant City Manger’ and a $1/4 Million/year salary for Parton’s girlfriend because, to quote Councilman Julio Martinez, “we want Parton to be happy”.
The Council room was packed. Almost every seat was taken by people supporting Josh Galbraith’s public comment, but they left mine and Judy Bingham’s seats open for us.
And look who that is sitting to Galbraith’s left; it’s dirty Della Condon, hand picked by Pardee Homes/City Council to push through Beaumont’s scams. People will remember dirty Della pounding her fist on the dais to push through the Potrero Interchange Project that will NEVER be the City’s Asset. Now it appears that dirty Della is trying to get back on the City Council by making promises to the P.D.
I would like to remind the P.D. that the reason there’s no money for your salaries and pensions is because the Citizens’ money is being wasted on things like Lawyers and Consultants that were hired to continue scams like the Potrero Interchange.
June 5, 2018 Beaumont City Council Transcript:
Public Comment:
1:10:41 Joshua Galbraith: I’m here to express my disappointment in the City Manager and the City Counc4il for their lack of support for public safety and the lack of concern for our community and the safety of our citizens. After serving this community for over ten years I medically retired with injuries sustained while working for law enforcement. I’ve been here working through all of the past problems that the City’s endured and I’ve seen the growth also.
1:11:00: Galbraith: The City of Beaumont has grown over 30% during the past decade, but the police force continues to decrease. In 2008 we had 54 Officers protecting our community. During the recession it dropped significantly as all departments in the City did at the time. Even though out population has drastically grown since; the police department is still 23% below the 2008 staffing levels. While all the city departments have not only returned to their previous staffing levels, they have exceeded them. The City’s actions demonstrate that the police are the lowest priority to the City Manager and the Council Members. Beaumont has one of the lowest ratios of officers to residences in Riverside County. To make things worse; our police officers have not received a pay raise in over a decade. I’ve spoken to several of you concerning this matter and I’ll remind you that the police department was the first group in the City to offer concessions and pay cuts until the City was able to get back on its feet.
1:12:00: Galbraith: Then, when the crisis was over, did you give these concessions back? No. You used the money to create other City Hall positions for the City Manager’s benefit. I know this is not the same Council that was here when these cuts were made, but you have been made aware of the promises that were made. Our community is losing experienced to nearby cities and are having problems recruiting new officers because of our low pay. The current pay can neither retain officers nor recruit new ones. The City deserves the best. We want to keep our officers here and give them what they deserve. Society today puts a lot more stress on our officers and they deserve to be taken care of as they serve our community. I know the citizens of the City want the best officers protecting our families. Some of you will be campaigning to stay in the positions of this Councils, so I’m here to put you on notice: If any of you make claims that public safety is your priority during your campaign, which each of you and the City Manager have done in the past; it would be a lie. If you don’t adhere to the promises that have been made you’ll be called on that lie at every meeting and throughout your campaign.
1:13:00: Galbraith: I’ve spoken to the Beaumont Police Officers Association. Although they have not been politically active before, they will actively oppose you for lying to our community and placing everyone’s safety, both Citizens and Officers, in jeopardy. I hope our community hears this message and spreads the word that the current City Manager and Council Members place our police as its lowest priority. And I hope we find people that care for the safety of our citizens and are willing to run for office because I’ll support you and the Beaumont Police Officers Association will support you also. So I’m asking you right now to please do please do what’s best for our City and take care of those that take care of us.