San Mateo County’s $10M PPE story.

By Michael G. Stogner

This is a work in progress, more questions remain.

As it turns out Several San Mateo County Employees knew a lot about that PPE product.

Here are three who knew according to San Mateo County Counsel.

Deputy County Manager Iliana Rodriguez, San Mateo County Chief Financial Officer Roberto Manchia, Department of Emergency Management Director Daniel Belville.

“County Manager Mike Callagy was not involved in these discussions and did not authorize the distribution of equipment to or through Wine Country Marines on or before January 13, 2022, and he did not have contact with Mr. Brown or Wine Country Marines on or before that date.”

“San Mateo County was looking to Donate the More than $10M of PPE Prior to September 2021“

This took a little while to get this information from San Mateo County Government. As you will remember on January 13, 2022 at 6:12 PM, ABC News Investigative Reporter Dan Noyes broke the story to the residents of San Mateo County. What we learned from Interviews with County Manager Mike Callagy and Candidate for Congress and former President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors David Canepa, Neither of those two gentleman and the rest of the Board of Supervisors had a clue about the more than $10M of product. They didn’t know it was moved, wet, or about to be DONATED by the Wine Country Marines on January 25, 2022.

In December 2021, a MassVax employee working at the Event Center suggested to Deputy County Manager Iliana Rodriguez that Wine Country Marines, a non-profit organization, might be a potential recipient organization.  Ms. Rodriguez thereafter began vetting Wine Country Marines to determine whether it would be an appropriate recipient.

Question? How many other 501-C’s were vetted?

California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)

On January 12, 2022, Mr. Belville spoke to representatives from CalOES, who approved donations to non-profit organizations. Question did they approve THIS donation?

January 12, 2022 Mr. Belville spoke to James Brown of Wine Country Marines, who agreed to help donate and distribute the equipment and PPE to organizations in need. 

You might be asking, When was San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management created? The answer is December 6, 2021 by San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy.

SMC Website DEM

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 12:46:45 PM PDT, Caiti Busch <cbusch@smcgov.org> wrote:

Mr. Stogner,

We’ve looked into your request, and, after reasonable inquiry, here are the facts:  Prior to September 2021, when certain safety equipment stored at the San Mateo County Event Center was moved outdoors, the County was looking to donate surplus safety equipment and PPE stored there, including equipment and PPE that was never moved outside. 

As part of this process, the County was vetting potential organizations to whom it might donate the supplies.  In December 2021, a MassVax employee working at the Event Center suggested to Deputy County Manager Iliana Rodriguez that Wine Country Marines, a non-profit organization, might be a potential recipient organization.  Ms. Rodriguez thereafter began vetting Wine Country Marines to determine whether it would be an appropriate recipient.

In early January 2022, San Mateo County Chief Financial Officer Roberto Manchia directed Department of Emergency Management Director Daniel Belville to confirm with the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) that supplies could be donated to non-profit organizations.  On January 12, 2022, Mr. Belville spoke to representatives from CalOES, who approved donations to non-profit organizations.

That same day, Mr. Belville spoke to James Brown of Wine Country Marines, who agreed to help donate and distribute the equipment and PPE to organizations in need.  On January 13, 2022, this arrangement was confirmed, and Mr. Brown posted as much on his blog.  No PPE or safety equipment was given to Mr. Brown or Wine Country Marines prior to January 13, 2022.  We are also not aware of any County employees who communicated with Mr. Brown or Wine Country Marines prior to Mr. Belville’s discussion with Mr. Brown on January 12, 2022; as far as we know, the only person related to the County who spoke with Mr. Brown before this date about this issue was the MassVax employee who originally suggested Wine Country Marines to Ms. Rodriguez.

County Manager Mike Callagy was not involved in these discussions and did not authorize the distribution of equipment to or through Wine Country Marines on or before January 13, 2022, and he did not have contact with Mr. Brown or Wine Country Marines on or before that date.

We will continue to investigate your records request, and, as indicated in my March 11, 2022 email, I will provide an update on or before March 24, 2022.

Thank you,

Caiti

Caiti T. Busch

(she/her/hers)

cbusch@smcgov.org

650-363-4768