Latest News: Holding Jones & Begonia Accountable
4 RUNNING SO FAR IN LOS BANOS RACES
4 RUNNING SO FAR IN LOS BANOS RACES
In an election that could dramatically change the direction of the city, four people have taken steps to run for Los Banos City Council – three for mayor. Former six-term Mayor Michael Amabile and former councilmember Refugio Llamas confirmed they will challenge one-term incumbent Paul Llanez for mayor on the Nov. 5 ballot.
PETITIONS TRIGGER RECALL VOTE ON JONES & BEGONIA
PETITIONS TRIGGER RECALL VOTE ON JONES & BEGONIA
It was confirmed Friday that enough frustrated Los Banos voters have signed petitions to force a recall election targeting Doug Begonia Jr. and Brett Jones. Their names are expected to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. City Clerk Lucy Mallonee said she had received emails from Merced County Registrar of Voters Melvin Levee confirming that the thresholds to recall Begonia and Jones had been surpassed.
GRAND JURY: LOS BANOS LACKED TRANSPARENCY IN HOW IT SPENT NEARLY $10M IN FEDERAL FUNDS
The city of Los Banos was singled out by the Merced County Civil Grand Jury for its lack of transparency and faulty practices in handing out grants under the federal American Rescue Plan Act. ... The Jury wrote that Los Banos’ guidelines were “not clearly defined or adequately publicized despite numerous requests from the public.”
2,200 SIGN PETITION TO RECALL JONES
2,200 SIGN PETITION TO RECALL JONES
Another 2,200 petitions from disgruntled residents were scheduled to arrive in the Los Banos City Clerk’s office Monday, as the city’s registered voters made it clear they intend to remove councilmember Brett Jones as well as Doug Begonia Jr.
THOUSANDS SIGN PETITIONS TO RECALL JONES, BEGONIA
Thousands of Los Banos residents have signed petitions putting councilmembers Doug Begonia Jr. and Brett Jones on the path to recall. On May 28, proponents delivered 2,005 signed petitions calling for the removal of Begonia as the District 2 councilmember. ... Last Tuesday, organizers estimated they had over 1,600 signatures – well over the 1,364 needed to recall Jones.
LB CITY MANAGER BLOCKS CITY STAFF FROM TALKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
Under questioning from Los Banos City Councilmember Deborah Lewis, new finance director Vanessa Portillo said she has been forbidden by City Manager Josh Pinheiro to speak with Lewis and other councilmembers.
JONES, BEGONIA IGNORE COMPLAINTS, BLAME UNNAMED ‘DEVELOPER’ FOR RECALL EFFORTS
Rather than respond to charges brought in certified recall petitions, Los Banos city council members Brett Jones and Doug Begonia Jr. blamed a housing developer for the growing public dissatisfaction with their performance.
LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS JONES AND BEGONIA SERVED WITH RECALL NOTICES
Los Banos city councilmembers Brett Jones and Douglas Begonia Jr. were served with recall notices last week, starting a process that could result in both losing their seats in the Nov. 5 election. “They’re not upholding their most critical duty, which is to be the voice for their citizens,” said businessman Graciano Rubio, who frequently attends council meetings.
NEW LOW FOR LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL: LETTER to the EDITOR, WESTSIDE EXPRESS
"One thing we can consistently count on with the current city council, or “gang of four,” is the new lows being reached at every council meeting."
SOME ARE NOW COMPARING LOS BANOS TO CITY OF BELL & THAT’S NOT A COMPLIMENT
When your city is being compared to Bell, California, it’s worth paying attention – especially if those making the comparisons include a former city manager and former city councilman.
LOS BANOS CITY MANAGER’S INEXPERIENCE IS AN ISSUE; SO IS NEEDING A 5-0 VOTE TO FIRE HIM
In 2021, Josh Pinheiro was not included on a list of names compiled by a recruitment firm paid to find Los Banos a new city manager. When two city councilmembers asked that Pinheiro’s name be added, the recruitment firm declined.
LOS BANOS: A CITY DEALING WITH BROKEN PROCESSES, PROCEDURES AND PROMISES
"My goal is to dazzle,” said interim finance director Brent Kuhn during the June 7 Los Banos city council meeting as he explained why he needed two more weeks to prepare the 2023-24 city budget. When the budget was presented on June 21 city council member Deborah Lewis was not dazzled. She was dismayed.
IT’S NO SECRET, MANY ON CITY STAFF FED UP WITH OR FEAR THE LOS BANOS CITY MANAGER
Some 25 to 30 members of the city’s five employee associations — firefighters, dispatchers, public works, police officers and sergeants – filed into the Los Banos city council chambers and lined up along its back wall. Though none addressed the council, their silent presence at the Oct. 4 city council meeting spoke volumes.
WHAT LOS BANOS MUNICIPAL STAFF WANTS CITY RESIDENTS TO KNOW
“Pay attention to the decisions your elected officials are making, especially the relationships some of these elected officials have with the city manager. The way they handled (Pinheiro’s claims of wrongful firing), that’s not normal. People should be angered, by it.”
READER SEEKS TRANSPARENCY, CIVILITY FROM LB COUNCIL
"Here are some qualities we seek and expect from our local (or any) elected government officials: honesty and transparency in their actions and decision-making, accountability for their actions and decisions, as well as taking responsibility for mistakes or failures without pointing blame at others."
LB COUNCILWOMAN EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER CONSENT AGENDA
At an explosive Oct. 4 city council meeting, members of the five city labor unions expressed no confidence in the leadership of City Manager Josh Pinheiro, Councilmember Deborah Lewis pulled all seven consent agenda items for discussion and the city voted to hire an interim public works director until a head-hunting firm can recommend a permanent replacement for Nirorn Than.
LOS BANOS VOTERS BEING ASKED FOR THE 3RD TIME ABOUT MAYOR'S TERM (WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEFEATED)
Looking back into Los Banos history, Dan Nelson, director of Los Banos’ Milliken Museum, found that the March 5 election won’t be the first time Los Banos voters will have been asked to extend the mayoral term from two to four years. In 1970 a similar measure was on the ballot and the results were 1,494 votes for a two-year term and 604 votes for a four-year term. In 1972 the same measure was on the Los Banos ballot with similar results, 1,426 for a two-year term and 555 for a four-year term.
CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO REHIRE FIRED LOS BANOS CITY MANAGER
On February 15, 2023, the Los Banos City Council approved, in a 4 to 1 vote, a settlement agreement that reinstates Josh Pinheiro to his former position of City Manager. After his termination last summer, Pinheiro filed a claim against the city alleging retaliation and wrongful termination. According to the terms of the settlement, Pinheiro will receive a payment of $1.8 million, a raise in salary to $215,323.00 ($17,943.58 per month) and a 4% step increase each year starting on Feb. 21st.
LOS BANOS COUNCIL CHANGES RULE TO PROTECT ITS REHIRED CITY MANAGER
Los Banos city leaders have decided to give a strong layer of job security to Joshua Pinheiro, the city manager who was fired last year but then won his job back in February along with a settlement payment of $1.8 million.
MEASURE H IS A TERRIBLE IDEA, REJECT A LONGER TERM FOR MAYOR: LETTER to the EDITOR, WESTSIDE EXPRESS
Abusive elected officials who wasted $1.8 million of our tax dollars, chased away dozens of workers from the city of Los Baños, hired an incompetent city manager twice! And they belittled and intimidated the workers of the city and now they ask you to give them even more power. Measure H is a terrible idea! Voters should reject it, berating this runaway city council.
WHY WE NEED TO RESTORE INTEGRITY TO LOS BANOS
City Manager Screed
City Manager Josh Pinheiro's agitated 27-minute monologue during the April 3, 2024, city council meeting.
"Does Your Email Not Work?"
Mayor Paul LLanez to Councilwoman Lewis, Council Meeting June 21, 2023
Statement from Five of Los Banos' Unions
Plus, another concerned citizen at the 19:45 mark, and the conclusion of the Unions' statement directly afterward.
"This City Manager Will Not Communicate with Me."
Bullying again from Councilmember Brett Jones (directed at Councilmember Jones) at the March 6, 2024, city council meeting.
The Homeless Situation is a "Money Pit"
Council member Brett Jones shares his view of spending money on the homeless.
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