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6/28/18 – Every citizen with a sense of righteousness in their heart will be appalled by what they are about to read : Despite the Riverside Grand Jury finding clear and convincing evidence of malfeasance in the backdoor dealings of councilmember Art Welch (see report), four out of five members of the Banning City council reject a motion by councilmember Don Peterson to censure Welch for his lawless conduct.

With their unconscionable decision, the Banning City council has now officially embraced total lawlessness in a city which has a long standing reputation of being one of the most corrupt in the State of California. After all, do you know of another city that had three Grand Jury investigations in less than 8 years? We don’t.

The latest corruption crisis is brought to you courtesy of ultra crooked councilmembers (lying) Debbie Franklin, George Moyer and their latest disciple, Daniela Andrade. Within two short years, Andrade has shape-shifted from an advocate of the people into a self-inflating turncoat, out to serve and protect the good-ole-boy system.

As the video of the sessions shows, Andrade even attacked the properly seated Grand Jury for being incompetent and biased. That is just what Banning needed, isn’t it?

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FRANKLIN, MOYER AND ANDRADE INDICATE THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WELCH’S LAWLESS BEHAVIOR

The nature of a censure process is to disapprove unlawful activity by a councilmember. If the council does not censure the member, they are saying that they condone and support everything the member has done.

In this case, the failure of Franklin, Moyer and Andrade to take action against Art Welch sends a message that adds insult to injury. The message is: “Art Welch did nothing wrong.  Nothing at all.  Do it again, Art.  It’s ok with us, buddy!”

With such an unconscionable attitude by four elected officials, it is safe to say that Banning is in deep, deep trouble. Houston, we have a problem….. our corrupt city leaders are encouraging malfeasance.

Not good. Not good at all……

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DANIELA ANDRADE SHOWS SHE HAS BECOME “ONE OF THEM” – QUESTIONS THE GRAND JURY’S DILIGENCE

Over the recent months it has become increasingly clear that Daniela Andrade, at one time a purveyor of righteousness on the council, has since completely flip-flopped and become a gatekeeper for the status quo in Banning.

In what can only be described as an unbelievable display of arrogance by an elected official, Andrade stated that the Grand Jury failed to fully investigate the issue and that more witnesses should have been interviewed, like for example all five council members as well as representatives of Diamond Hills Chevrolet.

It appeared that with her statement Andrade was attempting to “grasp for straws”, in order to find a reason to reject the Grand Jury’s findings.

Andrade’s approach is nothing new for Banning : ever since the (first) 2010 Grand Jury report, Banning city leaders have made repeated attempts to downplay the significance of the Grand Jury and their findings. They have even boasted about NOT following Grand Jury recommendations!

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For example, here is a 2013 clip of former Mayor Bob Botts in which he addresses the CEO of the San Gorgonio Hospital. Listen as Botts belittles the Grand Jury by referring to them as always the typical “naysayers” :

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As this video shows, Banning city leaders have a long history of disregard for the rule of law – and so far they have gotten away with it. Their general attitude shows contempt for our entire judicial system, to even include the Presiding Judge of Riverside Superior Court, who personally reviews all Grand Jury reports before they are released to the public.

Banning officials like Daniela Andrade, Bob Botts and others really have a lot of nerve when they imply that they are smarter and much more qualified than the highest judge in Riverside County. Who do they think they are?

Not only does this prove that they are out of touch with reality, it also indicates an attitude of lawlessness, arrogance and self-righteousness. After three Grand Jury reports, these are attitudes that Banning can no longer afford. Take that to the bank, Andrade!

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IT’S A RIGGED VOTE : JUST WATCH THEIR BODY LANGUAGE

We encourage our readers to closely watch the body language of Franklin, Andrade, Moyer and Welch as Don Peterson makes his motion to censure Welch at the 29:50 minute mark.

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Watch as the entire group enters into an eerie freeze. Nobody moves. Nobody gestures. Nobody says a word. It looks like they are all frozen. A ghostly, almost demonic silence fills the chambers. It must feel like an eternity for those participating in this bizarre “theater of the absurd”.

It’s obvious they can’t wait for this to be over. And you cannot help but notice their relief when George Moyer finally announces that the motion “dies for lack of a second”.

Folks, this what it looks like when a vote is rigged. It is an odd, painful experience. Just ask the riggers.

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CONCLUSION

Lawless activity of one councilman, Art Welch, has created a major crisis for Banning. But instead of holding him accountable under the law, the majority of the council acts like spoiled children, refusing to acknowledge that their good-ole-body buddy has indeed gone too far.

The little credibility that Banning had left was destroyed on June 26, 2018. After three Grand Jury reports, Banning leaders have abandoned accountability and the city has officially embraced total lawlessness.

Debbie Franklin, Daniela Andrade, Art Welch, and arguably the worst Mayor in Banning’s history, George Moyer, run Banning like it is a Banana Republic ……. and this is why each one of them needs to be removed from office – rather sooner than later..

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