Not too many years ago, then Supervisor Bill Postmus was involved in running
the government of San Bernardino County while on illegal drugs. Now, strong assertions
have surfaced that current Third District supervisor James Ramos may also be dueling a similar
addiction.
Many county employees are required to take drug tests for their positions.
This raises the question as to whether all elected and appointed positions directing the county
should also be routinely given a cup for drug testing.
The Third District comprises the second largest geographical district of the
county, and comprises such areas as Barstow, Big Bear, Colton, Grand Terrance, Highland, Mentone,
Loma Linda, Oak Glen, Morongo Valley, Redlands, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley, and a
portion of San Bernardino.
Although the Blotter must question some of Ramos' supervisorial
decisions, they appear to have been based upon his dependency upon a poor and unprofessional
county staff. There has been no public indication that drugs have been involved.
Nonetheless, an investigative report in the San Bernardino County Sentinel's
February 13, 2015 edition lends a great deal of credibility to the assertion of a possible past
drug addiction that may still be having an impact.
The investigative report also covers alleged major drug activity upon the San
Manuel indian reservation. Large monetary payments by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
to the county and the Sheriff's Department may have influenced the county's lack of fully
prosecuting some alleged Mafia related drug activity involving some members of the San Manuel
reservation. Earlier, Ramos was the lead member of the San Manuel tribal council.
The Sentinel is an incredible weekly news publication that deals
largely with the politics of San Bernardino county.
