ANSWER:

They all rely on taxpayer dollars to maintain their standard of living.  

Christine Cavanaugh the City of Spokane’s Director of Human Resources who was appointed to the position by Mayor Condon after her predecessor Heather Lowe got out while the getting was good makes over 150Gs all together that the taxpayers provide.

https://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2016/06/07/this-time-its-human-resources-director-heather-lowe-resigning

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/jun/07/spokanes-human-resources-director-leaving-city/

Bob Dunn the go to lawyer for any issue the City screws up on has made an incalculable number of taxpayers’ dollars which is the envy of many local members of the Bar.

The EEOC which is entirely funded by the taxpayers has the responsibility of looking into issues involving employment, including employment issues involving the City of Spokane.

Have things changed since Christine Cavanaugh took over for Heather Lowe?

It sure doesn’t look that way and the taxpayers keep shelling out money for HR Cases, and “Independent HR Investigations”.

So exactly what is causing Christine Cavanaugh’s problems as the Director of City Human Resources and will the City have to spend money to defend an EEOC complaint by her own employees?

I have a number of theories and here is just one:

In order to provide background regarding one of my theories I think it is important to provide some background and to a certain extent relate my “Bulldog Factor” theory.

As a lifelong resident of Spokane over the years I’ve noticed some folks, not all, who are associated in some way with GU end up getting some pretty gravy opportunities when it comes to public sector money once they get into the private sector. That isn’t unusual for a College Town but boy when you look at how former City of Spokane Acting Human Resources Director Erin Jacobson who is an Adjunct GU Professor and a member of GU’s HR Board and who is now employed by “Archbright”, given her background with the City it makes sense how Archbright would become a  favorite of GU Grad Mike Ormsby and HR Director Chris Cavanaugh.

https://www.archbright.com/

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140917006191/en/Washington-Employers-Archbright

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“All these people keep leaving, while we try to find out the truth,” Stuckart said.

But Condon said the departures of Isserlis, Jacobson and Lowe were all for “very unique” reasons and that this was part of the transition into his second term as mayor, which began in January. There was no pressure for Lowe to resign, he said.

“I just got back today, and it was a surprise to me,” Condon said of Lowe’s resignation. “I had verbally heard on Friday, and I met with her today, and she gave me her letter of resignation.”

In that letter, Lowe thanks Condon for her time at the city and his leadership.

“All these people keep leaving, while we try to find out the truth,” Stuckart said.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/jun/07/spokanes-human-resources-director-leaving-city/

https://examplepro.me/2016/07/31/the-saga-of-carly-cortright-part-two/

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What I find interesting about the Archbright contracts is that even though they have been around for a long time it appears that the City first started using them in 2016 about the time Jacobson was hired by the company with this contract for $48,700.00. Interesting…Right?

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Aee1ad1c9-8538-4ac0-a48b-a7259955a9f0

Here are a few other Archbright contracts you might be interested in, I especially like them because I know more about them then the City would like me to know.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A117e26d8-3c2a-4168-8b1f-4b9aaec28d98

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A24f5d226-e360-45c6-9c12-31ab7370aea7

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A20344704-74b0-4daf-9760-39251f33a41e

The other part of my theory is that the City is using the wrong Consulting Firm!

In my humble opinion Mayor Condon’s Human Resources Department has changed about as much as his Police Department!

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!

https://examplepro.me/2019/01/15/the-game-has-ruleswhich-must-be-followedor-not/

SPD Chief Craig Meidl is not the type of Police Chief that likes to deal with the media especially those that ask hard-hitting questions. Chief Meidl even went so far as to change his work cell number to fend off inquiries from those dirty, godless, hateful media folks.

So needless to say, I was somewhat surprised to see Chief Meidl’s email regarding the story I have been working on for several months. Although the email is somewhat cryptic it seems to be clear that SPD has initiated an IA Case regarding the Officer Winston Brooks testimony in Federal Court, hopefully it will go beyond just that issue.

• 

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https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A283cac6d-3c3d-4104-a6c7-a19f400fab65

One of the things that bothers me regarding Chief Meidl’s email response is this statement; “We just received this information and are following up.” As you can see from my follow-up email to Chief Meidl, which he has not responded to, I asked the question; “I have information that SPD did receive the information I reported in my story shortly after Officer Brooks testified in Federal Court, would you please tell me if that information is true or false?”

Yes, it is a hard-hitting question, but it goes directly to the issue of transparency and the same issues the OPOC has made in their complaint against Chief Meidl. It also is a standard investigative question relating to “What did you know and when did you know it?”

The who, what, where, when and why are always important things to establish in any investigation.

From the perspective of an individual who has asked those questions thousands of times including in IA Cases there are two basic answers and depending upon the answers can make individuals in leadership roles either look good or bad, but it is always better to answer honestly.

When I receive information regarding an issue I do my very best to try and confirm the information and that often will mean having to hold off on stories until I can get some type of corroboration of the information I receive.

Exactly where does the Spokane City Council stand on this issue… who the heck knows… even though they have been informed they also seem to be uninterested.

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!

This is a follow-up story to these previous stories and others involving SPD transparency issues:

https://examplepro.me/2018/09/19/no-leak-investigation-regarding-the-battle-between-spds-detectives-and-the-patrol-anti-crime-team/

https://examplepro.me/2018/11/16/why-do-we-waste-taxpayer-dollars-on-experts-to-make-recommendations-when-they-are-never-followed/

BACKGROUND:

One of the big pains in the butt for Investigative Reporters is having to study page after page of data, reports, court cases, emails, text messages, and all kinds of stuff. If you don’t do the work you can easily overlook something. I don’t think I have overlooked anything as far the battle between SPD’s Patrol Anti-Crime Team (PACT) and the Detective’s Targeted Crimes Unit (TCU), if I have I’m sure I will hear about it.

Aside from the ongoing issue of SPD’s lack of transparency which I’ve pointed out in my previous stories there is a real concern on my part and obviously on the part of others that there are serious problems with some of the cases SPD’s PACT are trying to make. As you can see from my previous story ( “NO LEAK INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE BATTLE BETWEEN SPD’S DETECTIVES AND THE PATROL ANTI- CRIME TEAM!!!”) SPD Detective Lonnie Tofsrud was punished for even bringing up the possibility that Officers lied in building a case. There are a number of serious questions which pop up throughout the IA Investigation of Detective Tofsrud a few of which he points out in his rebuttal to the IA Case.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A46733cd2-1376-490d-a4bc-8d4aa7115d91

(***It is a good idea to always make sure you get the Officer’s rebuttal when you do PRRs for IA cases.)

After the IA Case Tofsrud filed a Human Resources complainant against SPD Brass for the way the case was handled which will be an interesting read when I get a response from the City to my PRR  regarding Tofsrud’s complaint.

Since I broke a story on November 16, 2018 regarding the Ombudsman Commission making a formal complaint against Chief Meidl about SPD transparency, and the Spokesman Review followed up on my story on November 28, 2018 as did the Inlander on December 27, 2018 the information flow has been non-stop.

https://examplepro.me/2018/11/16/why-do-we-waste-taxpayer-dollars-on-experts-to-make-recommendations-when-they-are-never-followed/

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/nov/29/spokane-police-oversight-panel-files-formal-compla/

https://www.inlander.com/spokane/why-a-dispute-between-spokane-police-and-the-civilian-ombudsman-is-at-a-standstill/Content?oid=15661189

SPD “Terry Stops” has been a big issue for some time and SPD Chief Craig Meidl doesn’t like media stories which put SPD in a bad light and has been mum so far on my requests for contact regarding this story. Heck I’d even be satisfied with a nasty email like former Inlander Reporter Mitch Ryals got after this story as long as I was able to ask Meidl a few questions.

https://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2016/09/21/why-was-spokane-police-capt-brad-arleth-removed-from-his-big-race-data-project

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The OPOC and more specifically Commissioner James Wilburn has been trying for some time to have SPD turn over data on African American “Terry Stops” for some time, but they have had zero success even though the Public Records Act specifically allows data to be provided to provided to, among others the “Washington state commission on African-American affairs”, so once again I will suggest that the OPOC and Mr. Wilbur contact the Washington state commission on African-American affairs and have them demand the data from SPD.

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https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.56.240

A few other stories regarding Wilburn’s transparency attempts:

Ombudsman Commissioner James Wilburn, a former president of the local chapter of the NAACP, requested through Logue access to the case files involving use of force by officers against minority groups. The commission argues that the law allows any commissioner to “request the (ombudsman) to examine or re-examine specific non-disciplinary policy or procedure issues.”

“How can I do my job? You’re going to deny me what I’m here on this commission to do,” Wilburn said.

https://www.inlander.com/spokane/some-body-camera-footage-of-spokane-police-use-of-force-in-2016-erased-forever/Content?oid=11193723

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/nov/29/spokane-police-oversight-panel-files-formal-compla/

NITTY GRITTY:

THE HONORABLE SALVADOR MENDOZA, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

“And you try to mislead? That was offensive. That has never happened to me as a practicing lawyer, and it never happened to me as a judge. The Court’s going to grant the motion to suppress, including the fruits.”

I see a common thread in the cases I have been reviewing and the Winston Brooks case is typical of what I see. I won’t get into a whole lot more at this point and you can draw your own conclusions from what I have provided here.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A2f4af724-3c32-43cf-91d8-d9964a781f8d

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!

 

https://www.inlander.com/spokane/the-visionary-trying-to-reinvent-the-old-ridpath-hotel-faces-a-criminal-indictment-what-that-means-for-the-project-and-the-people-already-liv/Content?oid=159982211

A good Inlander Story by Josh Kelety but if anyone really took the time to look into “The Ridpath Mess” they would find that the background is very similar to a lot of property transactions that take place in Spokane with the same players and power structure associations…it is the way it works here in the nations scam capital.

Since Josh Kelety is new to Spokane he may not have known that “The Ridpath Mess” had its beginnings when local convicted scam artist Greg Jeffreys along with Dave Black and Grant Person of NAI Black purchased most of the Ridpath property.

One of the things I learned from years of experience is the place to watch scam artists work their trade is to spend time at the Spokane Club watching the artist’s work their magic, Jeffreys was fun to watch despite the perm job and what would happen to him was inevitable…long story. 😊

Just so you folks know when a local Federal Investigation or Grand Jury is going on in Spokane, one heck of a lot of people know, including the “Target” of the Investigation and Grand Jury so Jeffreys and the others involved knew exactly what was going on as did other members of the Spokane Community.

What a lot of people aren’t aware of is that for a period of time Don Barbieri’s Red Lion Hotels owned some of the property but later sold…now here is where we start with the typical Hilarious Spokane Stuff (HSS) which provides a picture of how Spokane Works.

Just prior to the Jeffreys indictment coming down Jeffreys smartly liquidated his assets as much as possible including his interests in the Ridpath which he sold to none other than Arthur M. Coffey who was a director of Don Barbieri’s West Coast Hotels/Red Lion Hotels Companies beginning in 1990 and was a Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of the Company beginning in June 1997. He was also President of the company’s West Coast Hotels division. Coffey served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company from 1990 to June 1997. Coffey had been in the hotel business since 1971 and joined the Barbieri group in 1981. Coffey was also a director of the Association of Washington Business, served as a trustee of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, served as a director of the Washington State Hotel Association from 1996 to 1997, served as director of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau from 1982 to 1985 and served as president of the Spokane Hotel Association from 1989 to 1990 so he had a pretty good Resume built up after leaving the Barbieri group.

Knowing all the background regarding “The Ridpath Mess” I got a real chuckle out of this “Frequent Conservative Critic” Shawn Vestal story.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/15/restoration-of-ridpaths-glory-days-adds-to-mix-of/

Especially when Shawn neglected to mention that Art Coffey was a business partner of Shawn’s boss W Stacey Cowles in the IPStreet Business and it was Art Coffey’s ownership of some of some of the Ridpath property that forced the Wells group to sue Coffey in order to gain ownership of the assets Coffey purchased from Greg Jeffreys.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Ab061f36a-90e1-421a-9c63-dafc97552f57

I have to keep reminding myself that Shawn is a Columnist and not an Investigative Reporter so doing serious background on columns isn’t a requisite.

One thing folks might ask is whether or not the City Council was informed about the Ridpath Mess prior to throwing our money into the project, the answer is yes but according to one City Council member I’m only right 90% of the time so maybe they figured the information was part of the 10%? 😊

I REPORT HSS YOU DECIDE!!!