Feel The Bern

[dales]

We got Berned: Sanders camp stiffs Sonoma town for $23,000

By Mike Moffitt

Updated 2:12 pm, Wednesday, July 27, 2016


Back in June in the run-up to the California primary, the Sonoma County town of Cloverdale welcomed Bernie Sanders to the city airport where more than 6,000 people cheered on the Democratic presidential contender.

Cloverdale isn't used to presidential rallies or big crowds — the town itself only claims 8,800 residents — so town officials had to call on neighboring burgs' police forces to give their cops a hand for the June 3 event. Healdsburg and Sebastopol, along with county Sheriff's Department deputies pitched in. In addition, four fire departments worked the rally.

All those extra police officers and firefighters piling up overtime costs money — $23,000 to be exact. Cloverdale officials told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat that Sanders' advance team assured them that local public safety agencies would be reimbursed.

But when city officials presented the Sanders campaign with the bill, instead of payment they got the runaround.


As Bernie Sanders gracefully expressed to crowds of supporters Monday evening that "Hillary Clinton would make a great president" tears flowed among the hold out Sanders delegates. Outside the Wells Fargo Arena, rumblings and protest from his supporters who have been gathering for anti-Clinton demonstrations. The persistence has made many wonder if Sanders valiant efforts to show unity among the party are truly making a difference as many vow to leave the party altogether.

According to the Press Democrat, Casey Sinnwell, national director of scheduling and advance for the Sanders campaign, on July 13 acknowledged receipt of the bill for "uncontracted security services," but stated that the U.S. Secret Service takes the lead on all security matters and "any local law enforcement organization contacted by the Secret Service to assist in security should discuss matters related to costs with the Secret Service."

That was news to the Secret Service, which denied any responsibility for paying local public safety expenses.

David Thomas, special-agent-in charge of the San Francisco Secret Service office, told the Press Democrat that "generally localities pay for the first responder resources utilized, unless they have an agreement with some other party, campaign or donor."

And that was Cloverdale's big mistake: It didn't get the deal in writing.

With the event scheduled only 48 hours after they were alerted, town officials didn't have time to draw up a contract, they say.

Maybe they thought that Bernie Sanders, champion of small-town America values, would honor a verbal agreement.

They'll know better next time.

[Long Run]

On the other hand, they now have something to be known for other than the spot where you turn off to go to the coast.

[Scooter]

Unlike the many, many, MANY times that Trump has contracted for services without having any intention of paying the contracted price, I see it as possible in this case that mutual misunderstandings about the cost and who would cover it has brought them to this pass. A town that had never before needed to deploy large numbers of contracted police, and may have grossly lowballed any estimate provided to the campaign, and a campaign that had never before been required to pay for local policing costs

[rubato]

It is an expense of self-government. A false and disingenuous complaint, just get over it.



Yrs,
Rubato

[Lord Jim]

That's impressive...

Coming as it does from a fellow wouldn't be able to find his ass with both hands and an AWACS...