PREFACE to WHAT LEE POPE (FALSELY) WROTE ABOUT ME re the FICTIONAL INCIDENT REPORTED BY HUGH HALFORD (possibly a CRONY

of LEE POPE, directly or indirectly)

LEE POPE wrote this about me ...without ever having personally spoken with me, nor without having taken any of my testimony ... this speaks VOLUMES about how ADULT TEACHERS with college education (and sometimes more) are treated like bad children without the benefit of the doubt or without even being allowed to give their side of the story. I do NOT doubt that Lee Pope is probably a native California, possibly northern California, and possibly even knew Hugh Halford (who is also from northern Cal and attended UC Davis) ... this guy is just WAY TOO EAGER to write bad and untrue things about me.. (by the way, later the whole thing was EXPUNGED and my record was clean and clear, yet Lee Pope definitely WANTED me to be guilty..the question is WHY ? one answer already is that he was friends of Halford or had that cronyism M.O. that extends special favors to the locals . .. and so I went online and typed in Lee Pope.. didn't search long or hard..didn't do a background check.. but first I found something

just listing some of his experience.. looks like he worked mostly for California Teaching Commission in the legal counsel office (meaning he probably, but I don't know for sure, has a law degree if so..more likely that he would be inclined to MAKE me the culprit in the alleged (totally untrue) touching (bumping ? hitting?) of Hugh Halford on the elbow in the court hallway (total fiction by Halford who leaned into me) .. so I scrolled down further and found a little article in the Sacramento Bee that raises eyebrows about hiring practices at the California Teaching Commission and the fact that they do a lot of "inside hiring" (meaning that family members are hiring or recommending other family members inside the same business; (note that this is government not private ) .. and in fact Lee Pope has had two of his OWN children working for the California Teaching Commission .. HE is actually quoted in the article denying any wrongdoing or favoritism.. HMM .. um hmm.. It's beginning to get a little more CLEAR to me..California seems like SUCH a big state, but I would say there is definite CRONYISM that is going on that is negatively effecting good people..including me. Shame on Lee Pope.

The article & comments re LEE POPE, CALIFORNIA TEACHING COMMISSION & QUESTIONABLE FAMILY HIRING PRACTICES IS INCLUDED BELOW or you can find it online at SEE http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html Also see http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Pope_Lee_521061020.aspx

Audit finds concern about family ties in hiring for California teacher credentialing panel
Share By Jim Sanders jsanders@sacbee.com Published: Sunday, May. 8, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 3A Last Modified: Wednesday, Jul. 13, 2011 - 2:21 pm The state agency that decides whether teachers are fit for California classrooms has a record of hiring workers with
family ties.

Last year, the employee roster included two sets of siblings, one father-daughter pair, and three instances in which the child of an existing employee was hired temporarily as a student assistant. A recent audit found 40 percent of employees surveyed said that hiring and promotion at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing are compromised by family relationships or favoritism with 19 percent saying it occurs often. The issue, one of many facing the commission at a legislative hearing this week, involves something that state agencies are not required to track: How often do they hire friends or relatives of employees? Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, in a letter to the commission, said the survey found hiring concerns

that "strongly suggest the need for a shift to a more professional culture in the organization." Commission employees provided state auditors with the names of 24 past or present colleagues who they contend are related to each other a number agency leaders say represents only a small percentage of the 160-member staff. Yet 43 percent of respondents at the commission said they fear retaliation if they file a grievance or formal complaint. Once feelings of favoritism take root, they can taint an agency, harming the image of equal opportunity and fairness, according to Steinberg. "Certainly, perception can be reality," he said. The audit focused primarily on the commission's handling of teacher misconduct cases and prompted State Auditor Elaine Howle to describe it as one of the "worst run" offices she ever has investigated. Two hiring irregularities involving relatives of commission employees were found: A candidate for student assistant was hired despite submitting her application 49 days after the deadline and not undergoing an oral interview. Commission Executive Director Dale Janssen said a supervisor mistakenly assumed that an exception to the normal hiring process could be made because the applicant was a previous employee.

 An eligibility exam took place even though the applicant was the sister of a person on the judging panel. Janssen said that allowing someone to evaluate a sister applicant was "absolutely unacceptable" and that test results later were nullified. Janssen, whose commission oversees teacher credentialing, discipline and training standards, said the commission does not tilt hiring to favor or to disqualify relatives, he said. "If the family member is the best qualified, why would we want to discriminate?" Janssen asked, adding that his office's anti-nepotism policy bars one relative from supervising another. Janssen noted that only 26 percent of respondents said the commission's family ties create a conflict of interest or affect supervision, security or morale. Auditors said they could not conclusively determine whether favoritism affected hiring because of flaws in commission record-keeping. In four of seven hires it analyzed, auditors concluded that the commission did not retain adequate documentation to justify its choice. "By not following its hiring practices and procedures for all appointments, including student assistants, the commission may not be able to deflect accusations and perceptions of favoritism," the audit said. Attorney Kathy Carroll, who was fired by the commission while cooperating with auditors, said that "every time I

turned around someone was telling me about someone else that was connected through marriage or familial relationship." "It definitely affected people's ability to feel they have equal opportunity," Carroll said. A related issue is the hiring of acquaintances: The commission's legal staff is dominated by former attorneys for the state Board of Equalization Mary Armstrong, Ani Kindall, Monica Silva and Janet Vining, Carroll said. The state requires merit-based hiring but does not ban or set limits on the number of relatives that can be hired. Departments typically adopt policies barring employees from supervising a relative, said Steve Caldwell of the State Personnel Board. In a formal response to the state audit, the teacher credentialing commission said it will develop a comprehensive hiring manual. Janssen said that documents justifying new hires will be retained.
Doug Heller of Consumer Watchdog said that such records

are crucial. "It wouldn't be surprising that the daughter of a good accountant is a good accountant herself," he said. "It very well could be that the right person for the job happens to be related to an employee. But agencies should take care to demonstrate the appropriateness of the hire." Howle's office did not release names of related employees, but The Bee confirmed at least six family relationships.

Spouses Cheryl Hickey and Marty Ledesma also serve the commission, but only Hickey is salaried. Ledesma is an appointee on a committee that reviews teacher misconduct allegations.
Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said

that six sets of relatives in a public agency of 160 employees seems relatively high. In private industry, the hiring of relatives tends to be frowned upon, he said. "There are a lot of husbands and wives who work at the same place, but that doesn't mean it isn't of some concern," Elson said. "Historically, a lot of companies have said no." Caldwell, of the State Personnel Board, said that no statistics are kept on whether the commission hires more or fewer relatives than other state agencies. Assistant Chief Counsel Lee Pope, whose daughter works at the commission and whose son previously worked there, said that it is not odd that someone would want to follow in a relative's footsteps, hear about a job opening and get hired on merit. "What you're asking me, subtly, is were there some kind of improper dealings going on. The answer is absolutely no," Pope said. "I've never had anything to do with anyone related to me getting a job, ever. Integrity is very important to me. I would never, ever do anything to cross the line."
Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

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Call Jim Sanders, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5538. Read more articles by Jim Sanders

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stevor It sounds like what that illustrious organization, the United Nations, is also known to do. If you have a cushy job with little to do and lots of pay/benefits, it's your "family obligation" to get your relatives in on the scam, right? (think of Rahm Emanuel and his brother as another example)
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Like 05/10/2011 11:09 AM Report Abuse

yardbird88 No, it's just a co-incidence that the deputy director happened to be the neighbor of the regional manager of my agency. My boss is also happened to date his staff. Welcome to the buddy system!
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Like 05/09/2011 05:27 PM 1 Like Report Abuse

JeezLouise This is true. People get preferences everyday. Most people hire a lot of good looking men/women and friends/family before someone who might be more intelligent... Ethics and equal oppurtunity seem to take a back seat to profits, personal appearance and favoritism.
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Like 05/09/2011 11:35 AM 1 Like Report Abuse

Bob Fry , Diogenes quit a long time ago.... The former Director of the State Dept. Water Resources--hired under GAS--hired the wife of his former business partner as Chief Counsel. Then he made her Chief Deputy Director. His reward for cronyism? He was elevated to Chief, Resources Agency by the GAShole. Just goes to show, 3rd-world style nepotism and cronyism is color-blind.
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Like 05/09/2011 11:29 AM 3 Likes Report Abuse

sacrob

I worked at two divisions/offices within the California Department of Public Health and both of them had problems with nepotism. In one small unit I worked in, two of my co-workers were sisters and one of my co-workers was their aunt! (And they had at least two or three other relatives working elsewhere in the office outside of my immediate unit.) When I expressed my concern about nepotism to my supervisor, she said, with a straight face, that she considered all of us to be family! Another supervisor of mine at the CDPH hired her daughter, only her daughter technically came under the supervision of another manager on the org chart. The supervisor's nephew also worked in the office and was promoted to a management position. The three of them constantly would hang out in the supervisors' office. Those of us who weren't members of their family would call these gatherings in the supervisor's office "family reunions." When I complained formally to the CDPH about the rampant nepotism there, I was only told that they were working on a policy. Yeah, right. The ONLY thing that is going to stop nepotism -- which is a form of moralecrushing corruption -- throughout state service is if an OUTSIDE party puts a stop to it. These corrupt state workplaces aren't going to police themselves. At best, they're only going to offer vague promises to clean up their act when the fact is that until and unless they are forced to do that, they never are going to. Everyone in a workplace should be on equal footing with all of his or her other coworkers. Those in leadership positions who can't see or who refuse to acknowledge that nepotism is an abuse of power (that is, corruption) are not fit to lead and should be removed from power if they allow such abuses as nepotism.
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Like 05/09/2011 10:23 AM 2 Likes Report Abuse

JeezLouise I saw this kind of stuff with gays/lesbians and their friends as well. If you're good looking you're more likely to get a job faster as well.
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Like 05/09/2011 11:40 AM in reply to sacrob 2 Likes Report Abuse

membername Besides the obvious unfairness engendered from preferrential treatment & favoritism in the workplace is the effect those things have on creative thinking. If everyone is essentially a mirror image of each other in how they think & interact & the life experience they bring to their jobs, a rehash of the sos is the result.
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Like 05/09/2011 08:45 AM 1 Like Report Abuse

sacrob Yup. At one state office (in the California Department of Public Health) where I worked, the new chief systematically purged from the office everyone who disagreed with her radical view of how the office's mission should be retooled. After she pushed out all of the good managers and staff, all that were left were the mediocre bobble heads who are good at agreeing with authority but who are utterly uncreative and lacking in initiative. The chief got the yes-men and yes-women she wanted, but she ruined the place, all for her own ego.
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Like 05/09/2011 01:03 PM in reply to membername 1 Like Report Abuse

JeezLouise Yeah this country is lacking creative thinking the last few decades lol.
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Like 05/09/2011 11:40 AM in reply to membername Report Abuse

tom1love Perception is reality in state government .. Now check big agencies like Corrections.. CHP .. and Caltrans.. Check the core mission jobs vs. the support jobs (Admin. Jobs).. now let the heads roll ..

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ4mI5nI

sacrob And check the CDPH, too. Nepotism has been running rampant throughout state workplaces in Sacramento. Many state workplaces are quite incestuous.

Like 05/09/2011 01:04 PM in reply to tom1love Report Abuse

bereasonable The hiring process is byzantine. It's hard to see how anyone would go through the trouble without an insider to coach them through.

Like 05/08/2011 09:56 PM 5 Likes Report Abuse

manyhats "nepotism: favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those with power or influence." Key word: "favoritism."

People keep throwing the word "nepotism" around, but the audit did not find any favoritism. None. What they found were some relationships...which is common and against no rules whatsoever. The auditors themselves have lots of related people working in their office. If they were hired based on merit, there is nothing wrong with that. Employers should hire and promote based on merit. That is what the CTC did.

Like 05/08/2011 09:13 PM 4 Likes Report Abuse

sacrob Sacramento is large enough that there are plenty of qualified people for state job openings. The concentration of family members (by blood or marriage) and/or family friends in one state workplace is an abuse of power, and there is no excuse for it. Of course those guilty of nepotism claim that there is no favoritism going on, that everything is on the up and up. Like they are going to admit that there is any problem with it! And of course from their perspective there is no problem!

Like 05/09/2011 01:06 PM in reply to manyhats Report Abuse

manyhats I am not defending nepotism, I am stating that it has not occurred at the CTC. The very thorough and unforgiving auditors found no evidence of favoritism, but you feel comfortable saying that the employees with some connection at the CTC do not deserve their jobs. That is quite a harsh conclusion, considering the fact that there is no evidence to back it up. I have no argument that there are many qualified people, but did they apply? The fact is that as much as people are trying to paint this as a big, corrupt agency, in reality it's relatively small and obscure. Even a lot of teachers get the CTC confused with bigger agencies like the Department of Education. It makes sense, then, that people who know employees of the CTC will be more likely to APPLY, compared to a person who has never heard of the CTC. Also, I wonder where you are getting your information about "concentrations of family members," since there is no indication that this concentration is unusual enough to imply

wrongdoing. As this article pointed out, the auditors themselves have several pairs of family members working in their office. As long as they were hired because they were the most qualified applicants, there is nothing wrong with that.

Like 05/09/2011 02:34 PM in reply to sacrob 2 Likes Report Abuse

JeezLouise Well I dunno, it seems to be a numbers game. If you're from a big family you'll have more chances of being hired than an only-child? Seems weird. Out of all the career choices in the world they chose to be in the same career, yet alone the exact same office?

Like 05/09/2011 11:43 AM in reply to manyhats 1 Like Report Abuse

bereasonable My opinion (worth what you pay) is that the whole thing is broken. In an attempt to create "fair" exams and interviews the State created a bizarre robo-process where you pretty much have to have inside knowledge to do well.

Like 05/09/2011 09:16 PM in reply to JeezLouise Report Abuse

cacline I understand people's frustration with the world today. However, before you start shooting all the dogs 'cause one of them has fleas, consider this: If private schools such as Jesuit, let's say, had to educate the same students that our local public schools are currently required to teach, the results would be interesting. In other words,require Jesuit to teach the unmotivated, the unsupported at home, the belligerent, the distracted, the dysfunctional, the ghetto-minded, and let's all match our STAR test results. By the way, private school

teachers have benefitted greatly from the modest gains made by public teachers' unions. They have seen their salaries go up and their benefits improve because of the contracts signed by public school teachers. Do you really see me as your enemy? I love our kids, I work hard to educate them, and all I've ever asked is to be treated fairly. I really don't understand the hatred that is being levied at teachers.

Like 05/08/2011 07:54 PM 7 Likes Report Abuse

cacline um

Like 05/08/2011 07:45 PM Report Abuse

Schoolmen Big Gov, Big Lib and Big Union using and abusing the system?

Shocking!! ...or as the Bee would put it, "spectacular"... Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5B6WYV

JeezLouise This happens everywhere. It is not news. What would be news to me is how much money we were forced to waste to have this "audit".

Like 05/09/2011 11:37 AM in reply to Schoolmen Report Abuse

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bobby1122 Now remember kids, always trust the lawyers on govt. boards to be the best judge of honorable and ethical behavior. HA,HA.
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Like 05/08/2011 06:18 PM 2 Likes Report Abuse

jkm35 Do you know anything about this Mr. Pope quoted in the article? If you looked him up you'd see the only people who have a problem with him are people who he removes from classrooms for being molesters, and wingnut poor employees who fight toot hand nail despite being obviously unbalenced, and the occaisonal tool like yourself.
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Like 05/09/2011 09:48 PM in reply to bobby1122 1 Like Report Abuse

kpemstrt Bad wrting editing or bad editing? The article mentions that the Bee confirmed that the Auditors has six family relationships: Howle's office did not release names of related employees, but The Bee confirmed at least six family relationships.

Then the article jumps back to a statement about a couple who work and volunteer at the CTC: Spouses Cheryl Hickey and Marty Ledesma also serve the commission, but only Hickey is salaried. Ledesma is an appointee on a committee that reviews

teacher misconduct allegations. Then it goes to talking head whose statement appears to relate to the Auditors, but is very confusing and could be construed as talking about the CTC: Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said that six sets of relatives in a public agency of 160 employees seems relatively high. In private industry, the hiring of relatives tends to be frowned upon, he said. "There are a lot of husbands and wives who work at the same place, but that doesn't mean it isn't of some concern," Elson said. "Historically, a lot of companies have said no." If the Auditot didn't cooperate, how did the Bee figure out the relatives? If you look on the Bee state worker salary data base for the State Auditor there are 8 sets of people with the same last name and most are male and female and some of them are probably married. Don't know how the Bee "confirmed" relationships but it wouln't be too hard. The talking head comment was a remark about the number of husbands and wives working at the Auditors, but was written or edited in a manner that could be confused as a comment about the other agency. Sloppy or intentional? Either way not serving the reader well.
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Like 05/08/2011 06:14 PM 2 Likes Report Abuse

manyhats You're right, the article also mentions family relationships in the AUDITOR'S office, but this article arranged things so that isn't obvious. The way the Bee ordered things, it seems on first reading that they are only talking about the CTC. Not surprising, of course. The Bee has shown that it prefers to make sensational-sounding insinuations rather than report the truth in an objective way.
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Like 05/08/2011 07:28 PM in reply to kpemstrt 4 Likes Report Abuse

Schoolmen

The more you expect from the SacBS, the more you will be let down.

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Like 05/08/2011 06:28 PM in reply to kpemstrt 4 Likes Report Abuse

caskept1c I am shocked NOT by this finding. Over the years there have been numerous news stories about rampant nepotism in government employment. For example, see "The State Worker: Blog back special edition: nepotism" here at SacBee at http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_st.... All this article says is that the problem continues.
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Like 05/08/2011 06:04 PM 1 Like Report Abuse

manyhats The auditors didn't find "rampant nepotism." The existence of relationships is only one part of the question...the other part is improper influence in the employment practices, and there was NO evidence of that. The issue with the exam was isolated, corrected by CTC staff when found, and... let's just say that not everyone involved is still with the agency. That is an example of an agency doing what it *should* do when an issue like this arises.

Do you think it's sound policy to reject the most qualified candidate because he or she happens to have some connection with another employee at the agency, even when their paths won't cross at work?
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Like 05/08/2011 08:26 PM in reply to caskept1c 3 Likes Report Abuse

FrederickBaroh Nepotism is the norm in ALL working environments. How shocked should we really be here? People who have been to college help their kids through the pitfalls and obstacles of enrollment, is that "fair" to students whose parents didn't go to college? America isn't a Meritocracy, it's an Oligarchy (who cares which political party, it's Banking and Investment that tells the useful idiots who stand out front what to do).

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Like 05/08/2011 04:01 PM 3 Likes Report Abuse

caskept1c No. It is the norm in government work environments. At least I have never seen anything remotely resembling nepotism in 40 years of private sector work experience at several major companies.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5K2r7c JeezLouise I've seen it thousands of times, food industry, supervisor and middle manager preferential hiring, accounting, law firms, oil industry, fishing industry, retail etc etc etc. It's not what you know it's who you know.

Like 05/09/2011 11:53 AM in reply to caskept1c Report Abuse

Ware2Run Maybe I need to come over to the "right side of the street" with the "Unemployed Right Wingnuts" and abandon these Obama-loving liberals and say '$crew humanity! They're all communists!" because I don't want my taxes to pay for those social service programs (cuz they wanna milk us dry, dude), which means Grandma is left with a note at the hospital or fire station who has no idea where or who she is. I can cruise around and get pumped up with some KFBK talking points and grab a $6 burger, fries and a 24 oz Mountain Dew at Carl's Jr. After lunch I can go home, do some online teabaggin' on state workers, unions, gays, Obummer or Latinos (who don't want to learn English) because it's so "unconstitutional " what they do. Gotta fill out some online applications and fire off some resumes for this week so I can mail in my card on Sunday and get PAID on Thursday! I have no problem with diversity and I like Corona and breakfast burritos from AM/PM. Would I really want to live the life of an angry unemployed dude who hates anyone that's different? I think I will keep an open mind and give that Kenyan-American bro' who made fish food of Osama another shot in 2012. I would probably die from a heart attack or type 2 diabetes if I chose to go through life wearing a silly pillowcase with peepholes (over my balding head) and keep living this rant.

Like 05/08/2011 03:36 PM 2 Likes Report Abuse

Guest The article said, "In four of seven hires it analyzed, auditors concluded that the commission did not retain adequate documentation to justify its choice." This alone makes everything else said by everyone, that there is no truth or basis to justify their hires. It all is BS.

Like 05/08/2011 03:31 PM Report Abuse

 VenturaCapitalist , You can be very generous when you're spending someone else's money. And you people expect us to pay a $55 BILLION tax increase for this craap? Seriously??

Like 05/08/2011 02:12 PM 4 Likes Report Abuse

spearcy "Attorney Kathy Carroll, who was fired by the commission while cooperating with auditors"... Um, isn't the law supposed to protect whistleblowers?

Like 05/08/2011 01:58 PM 3 Likes Report Abuse

jkm35 Not if they are sexually harrassing employees and behaving erratically claiming coworkers are being "brainwashed to hate her" as claimed in the prior article. It sounds like This union employee K Carroll is just trying to keep a job she was being fired from by slinging mud at the people trying to fight the uphill battle of removing a union protected mentally disturbed sad woman.

Like 05/09/2011 09:40 PM in reply to spearcy 1 Like Report Abuse

JeezLouise It's supposed to; but it very seldom does.

Like 05/09/2011 11:50 AM in reply to spearcy Report Abuse

manyhats Yes, the way that was written did make it seem like the attorney was fired for whistleblowing, didn't it? Hilarious. I dearly hope that the true reasons for that employee's termination come to light. Truly.

Like 05/08/2011 09:18 PM in reply to spearcy 3 Likes Report Abuse

Donaldsonisity My friends daughter is suppose to attend Sutter Middle School, can anybody advise me of which teachers to stay away from?

Like 05/08/2011 12:55 PM Report Abuse

smi2le Nepotism is really rife in police and firefighting agencies. Remember that when you hear cops and/or firefighters whining about hard and dangerous their jobs are. If their jobs were that bad, why would police and fire departments allow relatives to side track the socalled "high standards" for employment? Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5Sexal Guest Exactly, why do families end up in the same profession? Nepotism. The same with actors and Hollywood. In my opinion a great percentage of average people could become actors if we got their breaks and got on the job training. I do not believe acting just "runs in the family".

The same with police, fire, teachers.

Like 05/08/2011 03:29 PM in reply to smi2le 3 Likes Report Abuse

JeezLouise Yeah that's true.

Like 05/09/2011 11:51 AM in reply to Guest Report Abuse

2Beeornot2Bee "Attorney Kathy Carroll, who was fired by the commission while cooperating with auditors, said that 'every time I turned around someone was telling me about someone else that was connected through marriage or familial relationship.' "

Sounds exactly like the agency I work for, where nepotism and cronyism are widespread and pervasive. I can think of at least two very high-ranking managers who got there not because they were any better qualified than anyone else but because of their relationships, familial and otherwise, with other high-ranking managers.

Like 05/08/2011 12:19 PM 6 Likes Report Abuse

Giantsin10 The problem with nepotism is more qualified people are not considered so people can hire their relatives instead. Not hard to figure that out...but you can spin it, like is being done

here. Most likely by those guilty of spending taxpayers dollars to get their relatives on the same taxpayer funded gravy train they are riding.

Like 05/08/2011 11:43 AM 9 Likes Report Abuse

Politically Incorrect Vet Studies have concluded that 70% of job placements are the result of "connections" of some sort (it's who you know). I guess I got the jobs the "connected" people did not want. On the bright side, I do not owe any favors for the jobs that I did get.

Like 05/08/2011 11:19 AM 3 Likes Report Abuse

JeezLouise Oh man that's a good point; you're always going to owe someone a favor if you get jobs that way.

Like 05/09/2011 11:55 AM in reply to Politically Incorrect Vet Report Abuse

koningisor Parasites

Like 05/08/2011 10:32 AM 4 Likes Report Abuse

angeljperea Lets see, The State requires merit-based hiring now where have I heard that before? And but does not ban or set limits on the number of relatives that can be hired. And, finally, according to Mr. Steinberg , feelings of favoritism take root, they can taint an agency, harming the image of equal opportunity and fairness. Really? Doesn't this simply sounds likes the standard way that Sacramento does and has been doing the peoples business for years! So why would anyone be surprise by this practice of nepotism for this Commission or any other Commission? After all, Mr. Steve Caldwell, State Personnel Board, is on the record that, Departments typically adopt policies barring employees from supervising a relatives, however, does not ban their relatives from being hired. Really?

Like 05/08/2011 09:36 AM 2 Likes Report Abuse

luvmolly Really, and why should relatives not be hired into a job if they qualify just because it happens to be the same place a mother/father/brother/aunt/cousin work? I'd call that discrimination.

Like 05/08/2011 09:51 AM in reply to angeljperea 5 Likes Report Abuse

briscoespops I agree with you but must point out that not all discrimination is illegal.

Like

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5XXmaO

 luvmolly Again you are right. Just curious - in regard to hiring practices, what discrimination is not illegal?

Like 05/08/2011 10:05 AM in reply to briscoespops 1 Like Report Abuse

briscoespops Education is a technically a form of discrimination. Must have X level of education in Y fields of study.

As you pointed out, if nepotism is forbidden, that is a form of legal discrimination.

Health status is another form of legal discrimination although not in all cases.

In some cases, age is a form of legal discrimination. One can be too young for some jobs (i.e . law enforcement) or too old (i.e. air traffic control.)

I don't know if gov agencies are doing this but I have heard many employers are checking credit reports and using that as an MQ of sorts. That arguably, could be considered discrimination. i.e. one has traumatic event in the past that leads to bankruptcy but is disqualified based upon credit score.

Like 05/08/2011 10:12 AM in reply to luvmolly 3 Likes Report Abuse

luvmolly 1. Education is technically a form of discrimination - this would apply to all employment that requires specific education/skills to be hired. This type of "discrimination" is

universally accepted. 2. If nepotism is forbidden, I suspect it would not win in a court of law for most jobs. 3. Health - there are certainly jobs that require physical abilities some don't have. Again, universally accepted. 4. Age discrimination - see #1. I failed a woman on probation and she sued for age discrimination and lost. The evidence against her in her production and error rates, after months of personally working with her and documenting her work, was overwhelming. Age had nothing to do with her lack of ability to perform the job. 5. In my years with the govt, I am not aware of credit reports being checked for suitability for a job. In my personal experiences of researching an applicant's history, I've never used credit as an indicator of suitability. That doesn't mean they aren't, just never heard of it. Thanks for your thoughts. I had not thought of these points when anticipating your response.

Like 05/08/2011 10:59 AM in reply to briscoespops 1 Like Report Abuse

briscoespops Government jobs that require a thorough background check (i.e. security clearance) will pull a credit report. I don't think it works like "credit scores of 650 and below are rejected." It's more of an overall risk assessment. Several years ago, I applied to a municipality out of state and I had to sign a a release for a credit check but don't know if they actually pulled it.

Having said all that, I think credit is appropriate for a security clearance but don't think it's a good indicator of suitability and/or predictor of job performance.

Like 05/08/2011 11:50 AM in reply to luvmolly 2 Likes Report Abuse

Buddell With nepotism, there is less diversity. Always a bad thing.

Like 05/08/2011 09:31 AM 8 Likes Report Abuse

luvmolly To which diversity are you referring?

Like 05/08/2011 10:06 AM in reply to Buddell 1 Like Report Abuse

Buddell Diversity of thought, diversity of opinion, diversity of action, diversity of ideas--pick one.

Like 05/08/2011 10:10 AM in reply to luvmolly 6 Likes Report Abuse

luvmolly So a family member/friend being hired with the same employer as another family member/friend would weaken diversity? Are you implying that all family members/friends think the same, react the same, work the same way? I think that's a weak argument.

Like 05/08/2011 11:00 AM in reply to Buddell 2 Likes Report Abuse

 Buddell No, you said that, and quite well, I might add. I don't think it's a weak argument at all. Do you mean that there may be a small chance that isn't the case? Sure, anything's possible. But I still think fresh eyes on a seemingly insoluble problem is a better way. Bathroom accoutrements and procedures worldwide are a fascinating study, for example. Every segment of worldwide societies has its own ideas about how this common problem should be solved. Were I asked to design the perfect bathroom for everyone, it would be foolish of me not to ask diverse peoples worldwide how they have solved the problem. Who knows? After considerable thought and study working with a diverse study group, I might determine that a little shack with a partial-moon emblem and a pit underneath it is a better way. Then again, maybe not.

Like 05/08/2011 11:46 AM in reply to luvmolly 3 Likes Report Abuse

SBR4001 Collapse Buster202 makes a good point. Everyone's political party is public knowledge. Why would anyone in government hire Republicans? Everything about public employees is keeping the gravy train going by empowering the Democrats and Union bosses.

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Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5cVuz6 You make a faulty assumption if you think there are no Republicans in government service. There are several Republicans at the school where I teach, and a couple of them even verge into Tea Party like thinking. The world isn't as black and white as you assume (Democrat; pro government, works for government, Republican, anti government, works in private sector)

Like 05/08/2011 12:37 PM in reply to SBR4001 3 Likes Report Abuse

 JeezLouise There are thousands upon thousands of conservative republicans who work side by side with liberals as teachers, social workers, CHP, cops, park rangers, construction workers, prison guards etc etc. Unfortunately the demented, the weirdos and the fringe elements are the ones who are the loudest and most obnoxious so it seems like there are a lot of them. When in reality, normal everyday people republicans and democrats are more centrist than they realize and actually agree on a lot, they talk and work together quite well to fix problems at their work, or to make their jobs more efficent. The real world is pretty awesome. In the real world they debate and come up with even better ideas than they would have on their own. The internet is just a source for entertainment.

Like 05/09/2011 12:07 PM in reply to micamwood Report Abuse

Buster202 Which would make them what? 1 in 10. I'm surprised you people haven't run'em out.

Like 05/08/2011 01:38 PM in reply to micamwood 1 Like Report Abuse

SBR4001 Fire everyone and dissolve the commission. Nobody will notice. The commission has already admitted it has done nearly nothing the past few years. It boggles the mind how ANYONE is in favor of $55 billion in new taxes unless all this nonsense is deleted from the system.

Like 05/08/2011 09:20 AM 3 Likes

Report Abuse

frant is that what they call corruption?

Like 05/08/2011 09:06 AM 3 Likes Report Abuse

unemployedtoo Ethics is something that the Unions and our political officials know nothing about. It is time to have an Ethics committee that isn't made up of the same fools who are being investigated. We should start with Jerry Brown, who is bought and paid for by the unions. Mr. Brown wants more taxes yet he refuses to investigate unions and department in which he was given money from.

Like 05/08/2011 08:44 AM 7 Likes Report Abuse

micamwood All of your arguments stem from your political ideas, not necessarily from reality. In a way, you, too, are a political hack, only you're the anti-political hack. Don't you have any original ideas to add to the conversation without continually interjecting Republican vs. Democrat?

Like 05/08/2011 12:39 PM in reply to unemployedtoo 1 Like Report Abuse

Guest

Comment removed.

Like 05/08/2011 08:52 AM in reply to unemployedtoo 3 Likes Report Abuse

Buster202 Joe McCarthy was right.

Like 05/08/2011 09:03 AM in reply to Guest Report Abuse

luvmolly Really. That says a lot about you. I find your thoughts about McCarthy deeply disgusting and scary. Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5hH5lU rmbmsp But you opinion of him doesn't change the fact he was RIGHT

Like 05/08/2011 10:06 AM in reply to luvmolly 1 Like Report Abuse

Buster202 And not much has changed. In fact, they are more open about it than ever.

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05/08/2011 10:23 AM in reply to rmbmsp Report Abuse

greggibson Just more of the same. Vote NO an any and all tax "extensions". The state has more than enough money.

Like 05/08/2011 08:34 AM 7 Likes Report Abuse

LaughinChance Keep the NO in NOvember!! Thanks to whoever posted that gem... DEAD LAST (California!), 2009-2010-2011, survey of CEO's, Best & Worst States for Business, Chief Executive dot net... We actually could awake from the Lib era & become Employer/Job friendly... anybody need a job? Cut, Baby, Cut!

Like 05/08/2011 08:51 AM in reply to greggibson 5 Likes Report Abuse

Buster202 And it also helps to be a registered democrat.

Like 05/08/2011 08:21 AM

3 Likes Report Abuse

Giantsin10 Crookedn state agencies...really...wow that's a big surprise.

Like 05/08/2011 07:58 AM 6 Likes Report Abuse

sacbeeuser731 The civil service system, which I assume this agency is a part of, was set up to root out the cronyism and corruption of the public sector in the gilded age. Employment is supposed to be based on merit and provide opportunities to those who aren't part of the good old boys club. Nepotism undermines this goal. It leads to an in-group out-group mentality on the job, where those who are related or good chums of managers receive preferential treatment. Decisions are made unilaterally, with the in-group looking out for its own interests at the expense of other employees and even the public. It's a slippery slope to cronyism and difficult to police once a relative is hired. So, yes the decisions coming out of the credentialing panel should be questioned for this reason.

Like 05/08/2011 07:47 AM 15 Likes Report Abuse

expatbrasil Asst chief council, Lee Pope, another lackey attorney has no credibility. The state is so troubled and troubling that these issues appear common place. Fire these families.

Our governor, Jerry Brown, has assured that his "wife" now special council and defacto chief of staff, Anne Baldwin Gust, since the 2005 marriage always has a very special position paid for by US through Gust's staff, office, transportation, et al. Then attorney general, Jerry Brown, appointed the "wife" a very special deputy attorney passing up much higher qualified rank & file employee's who were outraged at the nepotism.

Deputy Attorney General Anne Baldwin Gust, after obstructing and concealing qui tam suits CV06.-581-Yolo & CV 32550- Calaveras, isn't qualified to walk the Corgi. These familial connections rarely serve the public interests its all self dealing interests.

Gust & Brown should call the Sacramento Sheriff's Dept Threat Management Unit and inquire on an investigation that obstructs justice and our state constitution Article 1 Section 3; with regard to the Sacramento superiors courts Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission, whose now concealing facts outlined in the qui tam suits.

People we have a governor with a faux wife who'd gladly trample any laws or rights to gain the office and has operated like a cabal.

Like 05/08/2011 07:43 AM 8 Likes Report Abuse

LaughinChance Does give the Govnr's et ux an opportunity to vocalize at high decibels her opinion of tax restraining Republicans tho... without fear of answering to the voters! Gladly trample... great phrase for that coat-tail rider!!

Like 05/08/2011 08:31 AM in reply to expatbrasil 2 Likes Report Abuse

Pressto , Wizard's First Rule. "People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. Peoples heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool." This is probably true of most government agencies.

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Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5mkEmH K-12 education in California is rotten to the core, through and through. Thank you Calfiornia Teacher's Association.

Like 05/08/2011 07:12 AM 12 Likes Report Abuse

LaughinChance Notice the CTA gave each Sacramento Senator $17,500 for voting against the school reform bill that would have given California access to "Race to the Top" funds from the federalees? Want the CTA wiki link? Notice the California education cabal of public unions spent $26 Million to defeat School Choice Prop in the 2000 election? Want the Ballotpedia link? Notice the LANDMARK new Education Law in Indiana? Podcast: http://www.aei.org/video/10143... Ends collective bargaining for Teachers, assesses current Teachers, enormously expands Charter Schools & gives parents vouchers. New day for parents/students in Indiana!!! Cain't happen here tho...

Like 05/08/2011 08:39 AM in reply to geezer2 5 Likes Report Abuse

jmounday

The good ole boy network still around..just changed hands.... Time for a urban league investigation.

Like 05/08/2011 07:10 AM 9 Likes Report Abuse

notahater I believe this goes on in a lot of agencies for the state. Why did they just pick this one. Audit the Transportation Department, then we will see some fun.

Like 05/08/2011 07:07 AM 9 Likes Report Abuse

briscoespops I bet you're right but it's not just state agencies. Local agencies are full of similar issues as well (although I think it varies between divisions/shops.) I think what Steinberg said about the effects of favoritism and a corrupt hiring/promotion process is spot on. Problem is, is that the leaders of these sick agencies/divisions/shops are products of the corrupt system. So, not only do they not care, they have a stake in the status quo.

Like 05/08/2011 07:22 AM in reply to notahater 7 Likes Report Abuse

luvmolly If family members/friends are being hired over a more qualified individual, then yes that's wrong. I work for a very large department where family members/friends routinely apply for jobs. I see nothing wrong with an employee alerting family or friends to job openings and encouraging them to apply. They will go through the same process as anyone.

I know for a fact that if a family member/friend happens to get to the interview process for an opening in the same section as the employee, that employee will not participate in the interview of the applicant. And that we look to hire the best qualified applicant. And no family member will ever work under the management of the family member employee. Every year we hire hundreds of seasonals. Many of those seasonals are family or friends that were told about the job opportunity. A seasonal position is a step in the door to getting experience and hopefully to test and make it on a permanent list. The hiring of family/friends occurs in all sectors. If a family member/friend is the best person for the job, then there is nothing wrong with hiring them. This article has no evidence that any of these people hired were not qualified. It's a hit piece with no guts to it. If it can be proven that favoritism occurred, I say hang em. Until that is proven, this is just another slam article.

Like 05/08/2011 09:10 AM in reply to briscoespops 2 Likes Report Abuse

NSacRube , Time for action...RECALL THEM ALL Not what you know but who you know>>>>>>that's all your saying>>>>

Like 05/08/2011 10:22 AM in reply to luvmolly 1 Like Report Abuse

briscoespops As always, I appreciate your viewpoint and agree with the notion of the person hired being the most qualified regardless of relation unless it violates policy, procedure or regulation such as family members in the same chain of command.

But the article did say, "An eligibility exam took place even though the applicant was the sister of a person on the judging panel." In fairness, the results were nullified but if that individual didn't have the sense to disqualify him/herself, well that is pretty indicative to me.

I also know from many of your comments in the past that you're a pretty smart cookie. I know of many examples in which the applicant is not the most qualified. Heck, I applied with a state agency a number of years ago with very specific qualifications to the job and they hired a kid with none of those qualifications and I was told they hired someones kid (I knew someone in the office.) I have specific knowledge of a number of other examples that are not nepotism but certainly cronyism. Don't get me wrong, I don't have some huge resentment on this and in fact, I have a really great job that suits my talents and passion. But to say that the burden of proof must be beyond any doubt to report on what many see as an obvious fact, is either naive or protectionist.

Like 05/08/2011 09:32 AM in reply to luvmolly 2 Likes Report Abuse

luvmolly I guess I wasn't detailed enough. I appreciate you pointing that out. Neither naive or protectionist. Unfortunately hiring practices are not always on the up and up. And that is wrong and needs to change. I was mostly defending the practice of hiring family/friends with the same employer as another family member. Some posters here imply that should never happen. It appears this agency has many fundamental problems which need to change. My experiences with hiring in my department are good. We strive to hire the most qualified applicant regardless of relationship. I certainly can't say nepotism or favoritism has never occurred. I don't have knowledge of all hiring that takes place. But in the different sections I have worked and been part of the hiring process, we are honest in our hiring. I am truly glad you got a great job that you are passionate about. In the end that's what we all should strive for. Perhaps that kid getting hired was a blessing in disguise for you. Sounds like it was.

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05/08/2011 10:03 AM in reply to briscoespops 1 Like Report Abuse

briscoespops State and local agencies throughout the state desperately need more people like you.

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Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5tCrlL Perry 2012 , Democrats Tax You to Death! Does this surprise anyone? All state agencies need to be overhauled.

Like 05/08/2011 06:59 AM 17 Likes Report Abuse

big_chief_o The answer to this problem is to create another monitoring agency to monitor the existing credentialing agency which is a precursor to a review by the county board of education before actually getting hired by the individual school within the school district.

Like 05/08/2011 06:59 AM 4 Likes Report Abuse

JWWiltshire But then, we would need another agency to monitor the agency charged with monitoring the original agency. And a committee to oversee both agencies, with the members appointed by the Governor and paid at least $159k a year, with car and medical benefits.

Like 05/08/2011 07:56 AM

in reply to big_chief_o 4 Likes Report Abuse

sacbee2209 The state should implement a nepotism law.

No relative of yours up to first cousin can work under your organization or your peers organization.

Like 05/08/2011 06:58 AM 9 Likes Report Abuse

StateHRgirl There already is an anti nepotism law in place.

Like 05/08/2011 08:49 AM in reply to sacbee2209 2 Likes Report Abuse

expatbrasil Jerry Brown can start by firing the "wife" Anne Baldwin Gust and send her packing back to GAP, Inc. I am sure there is some child labor violations that need attention.

Like 05/08/2011 07:52 AM in reply to sacbee2209 7 Likes Report Abuse

 Schoolmen

And yet another example of Big Gov and Big Union in California abusing their power. Imagine that.

When democrats rule, misery follows.

Like 05/08/2011 06:58 AM 13 Likes Report Abuse

elizacochran All of the hirings that were complained about happened during GAS reign. And none of the people involved in the hirings would have been rank and file union people. Dude, you dont know what youre even talking about.

Like 05/08/2011 02:25 PM in reply to Schoolmen Report Abuse

big_chief_o Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely...

Like 05/08/2011 06:55 AM 6 Likes Report Abuse

Human Earthling , You are who You Are

3rd paragraph should be "composed," not "comprised." Comprised is a nice word that most people don't know how to use, including this author and editor. shame Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ5zQDHd
o

loomisresident Another "tainted" State agency. Hey Jerry, what are you waiting to audit them all? Heck, we may even end up with a surplus

Like 05/08/2011 06:12 AM 3 Likes Report Abuse

o o

bbbbmer23rd Funny that Das Bee had no similar concerns as it endorsed Margaret Fortune's bid to start a race-based charter school to siphon precious public funds in support of her family headed nonprofit... Such hypocrisy never quits with this ed board....
o o

Like 05/08/2011 12:44 AM 9 Likes Report Abuse

Commander Bill , Official Arm Chair Quarterback on all major stories! Goodness.....Try hiring those who deserve it on the basis of merit.
o o

Like 05/08/2011 12:24 AM 2 Likes Report Abuse

manyhats

They did exactly that. Do you think it is impossible for the applicant who deserves it based on merit to be someone who knows an existing employee? Again I'll point out that the audit found no evidence of favoritism. And yet you and others feel comfortable jumping to the baseless conclusion that these people do not deserve their jobs.
o o

Like 05/10/2011 11:34 AM in reply to Commander Bill 1 Like Report Abuse

Commander Bill , Official Arm Chair Quarterback on all major stories! I feel comfortable because I know this through family connections....Audits only go to the surface and rarely dig deeper to find greater issues....So the information I have will suffice to make that statement.
o o

Like 05/10/2011 01:45 PM in reply to manyhats Report Abuse

sildogood

"Once feelings of favoritism take root, they can taint an agency, harming the image of equal opportunity and fairness, according to Steinberg."-You mean like having your buddy pardon your son for MURDER?
o o

Like 05/08/2011 12:16 AM 11 Likes Report Abuse

Ruben Garcia Mendoza That was Nuez, not Steinberg

o o

Like 05/08/2011 12:43 AM in reply to sildogood Report Abuse

LaughinChance That was GAS for Nunez' son. Why would Arnold Schwarzenegger pardon the son of a Democratic Assembly Speaker, who admitted to murder? http://answers.yahoo.com/quest...

Like 05/08/2011 08:45 AM in reply to Ruben Garcia Mendoza Report Abuse

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/08/3610202/teachers.html#ixzz1XJ66i8BY