Marty Block tops $10,000 in ‘Gifts’ …. #1 among S.D. County state legislators in 2010– Senator Mark Wyland took the fewest ($403)

Jim SillsJim Sills 1 Comment

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Democratic Assemblyman Marty Block (D-78) is the undisputed 2010 County champion gift-taker among state legislators,  per FPPC reports recently revealed.  With a strong sense of Junket, Block led the way with $10,829 in 2010 alone, easily besting 2nd-place Martin Garrick (R-74) with $8,692. Taking the fewest gifts among local State legislators was  Senator  Mark Wyland (R-38th) at just $403. … Source:  FPPC disclosure forms filed, and signed by, each California state legislator.

According to his March 1st signed report,  Block took Trips/Junkets from the ‘Klamath Alliance for Resources and Environment’  ($1,733),  ‘Edvoice’ ($746), and the ‘California Issues Forum” ($1,318). Food for various meals came from the SD Labor Council,  SD Chamber of Commerce,  UCSD  (“lunch meeting with Chancellor”),  California Democratic Party, Bridgepoint Education, and Hewlett-Packard (“private business- computers”).  Kicking in $65 worth of Wine were the fine folks at Black Eagle Wines in Sacramento.

Most intriguing  of all, however, was a “Commemorative Sword”  worth $84, received from the U.S. Grant Hotel.

By comparison, top skinflint Mark Wyland settled for a buffet at the Del Mar racetrack, and a couple meals with the Barona and Viejas tribal councils.  No swords!  Apparently Wyland prefers to pick up his own tabs.

……….How It Looks  in “Marty’s World” ….  His real worth & dismissing the Grand Jury

This #1  rating is in character for Assemblyman Marty Block.  As a member of the SD Community College Board in 2006, Mr. Block responded to criticism when he and other trustees raised their own salaries.  According to the Union-Tribune of Nov. 15, 2006, Block stated:

“We’re by far the lowest paid hourly workers in the district,” said Block, who holds board meetings with his colleagues twice a month. “Frankly, we’re deserving of 10 to 15 times what we’re paid.

OK…!!

Then in 2008, the San Diego County Grand Jury did an extensive report on San Diego-area community college districts, seeking more transparency and openness.   The Union-Tribune reported on August 1, 2008:

“The grand jury’s report, released in May, marked the culmination of an investigation that began last year after complaints by eight residents. Ethical issues surfaced in the governance of every local community college district except Palomar, according to the report.”

How did Marty Block and his colleagues respond to the Grand Jury reform recommendations? By rejecting every one of them on a unanimous 5-0 vote!  In a story headlined, “College District Votes Against Ethics Proposals” the U-T’s Sherry Saavedra quotes Block saying the Grand Jury must have been talking about someone else !

“Overall, I feel the grand jury report focused on issues that had largely risen in other districts,” board President Marty Block said before the meeting.”  San Diego Union-Tribune, August 1, 2008. Bart Simpson could not have said it any better.

……….Analyzing the 2010  ‘Gift’ taking Season among SD Legislators

Mark Wyland, the top skinflint ($403)  comes out of a long career as a successful businessman. Marty Block, the Top gift taker ($10,829)  hails from a long career as a public employee, at SDSU and in other places.   Is there a connection between these differing resumes and their attitudes towards taking “gifts?”

You’ll have to make the Call on that one, fellow Rostrafarians!

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Comments 1

  1. A follower of SD Rostra on Twitter posed a question via that server: “Okay, am I out of it, or is $10,000 a lot of gifts!!

    The Mighty Thor himself responded to that vital inquiry as follows from his personal Twitter account out on the forbidding Nordic tundra: “Yes, we would say that 10k is a lot in gifts!”

    7:51 PM, March 8th via UberSocial in reply

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