The 760,000 residents of San Mateo County might have first starting hearing about the more than $10M of PPE and the Convoy of Garbage Trucks filled with PPE leaving the San Mateo County Event Center in November or December of 2021. The Breaking News Story was brought to you by ABC7 News Investigative Reporter Dan Noyes on January 13, 2022 it aired at 6:12 PM.
The simple question I have had since first hearing about this PPE Scandal is, How is Mike Callagy still employed by the FIVE Supervisors of San Mateo County. Why was he not placed on Administrative Leave on January 13, 2022?
Notice the DATE of this e-mail, it is BEFORE Mike Callagy had any knowledge according to what he told Dan Noyes.
From: Michael Callagy <MCallagy@smcgov.org> Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 9:58 PM To: Peggy Jensen; Scott Johnson; Michelle Durand; John Nibbelin; Roberto Manchia; Justin Mates; Daniel Belville; lliana Rodriguez
Subject: Re: PPE loss documentation
Peggy yes you are correct as that is the approach | was going to take on the purchase. | think Dana and her staff will start the clean up tomorrow as it appears it is all individually packaged. It will need to be wiped down, but every package | opened was dry on the inside. The process of getting it indoors will take through Friday. There is a ton there. It would be great if we got a definitive answer from the VA on their desire to take lots of the PPE. Almost all of the gowns expire May 2, 2022. The approach I’m taking is this is surplus, (goggles, buckets, face shields, odd sized gowns, bleach) not hospital grade that we moved outside as we were trying to give it away. We made a mistake not moving it back inside, but with all that was going on with our focus on boosters and then Omicron and testing, it got lost in the process. We appreciate it being called to our attention and we are looking for a home for the items. Our medical grade gloves, gowns, mask, etc. are secured and occupying almost 7000 sq feet of space. We have distributed a great deal of PPE to local medical facilities (| will need to know where) and have enough PPE to last several years.
San Mateo County Government Change a few words and problem solved. $10M PPE Scandal
SMC Supervisor David CanepaKevin Mullin
Supervisor and Candidate for Congress David Canepa and Kevin Mullin who is also running for Congress. Take care of San Mateo County Business first.
San Mateo County Executive Officer Mike Callagy works for the 5 Supervisors, he is your at will employee.
San Mateo County News.com has 2 E-mails dated January 11, 2022 that show:
10 San Mateo County Employees who knew about the PPE on January 11, 2022
Roberto Manchia, John Nibbelin, Michael Callagy, Peggy Jensen, Justin Mates, Michelle Durand, Daniel Belville, Iliana Rodriquez, Scott Johnson, Kim-Anh Le
On January 13, 2022 two days later the San Mateo County Government lied to the public telling ABC 7 News Investigative Reporter Dan Noyes the County only learned about it because of Mr. Noyes contacting them.
Here are a couple of changes the Government made the next day January 14, 2022 . Changed the first sentence to remove “the County learned” as to not reinforce the idea we knew nothing . Clarified that the investigation is by an external person . Removed reference to FEMA and changed value to app. $7M
November 10, 2021 San Mateo County Risk Manager Scott Johnson stated in letter he sent to Kim-Anh Le “in my professional opinion, it is a total loss.” he’s talking about the PPE moved outside at the San Mateo County Event Center in September 2021.
Yesterday April 19, 2022 at the Board of Supervisor Meeting Agenda Item 12 was titled Surplus Safety Equipment, This item was put on the Agenda at the request of Supervisor Canepa at the last meeting.
None of the remaining Supervisors had any questions about the Deliberate well planned moving of $10M of PPE purchased with FEMA monies from the secured location at the San Mateo County Event Center in September 2021.
Through Supervisor Canepa’s skilled questioning technique he was able to get answers to these questions.
Possible liability of San Mateo County having to Refund the $10,000,000.00 to the Federal Government.
The monthly expense of $23,000 per month now for the storage of the PPE in 5 locations.
Mike Callagy is thinking of Building a Wharehouse to store the FEMA funded PPE.
The Dr. Jim Lianides/Mike Callagy/Staff and possibly other word crafters “Progress Report” which was supposed to be an “Independent Investigation.”
San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy said at the 2:58:25 mark “I think there was things in the Report that were Inaccurate that need to be Cleaned Up.” “That those changes did take place.”
That means that That Mike Callagy and his TEAM word crated the Dr. Jim Lianides Report. All FIVE San Mateo County Supervisors were cool with that.
The Five Supervisors of San Mateo County don’t want the residents/voters to know the Truth about the More than $10M of PPE purchased with Federal Grants FEMA according to James Brown President of the Wine Country Marines of Sonoma.
On January 13, 2022 Mike Callagy County Manager and Supervisor David Canepa, Candidate for Congress, both high ranking San Mateo County Government Officials told ABC 7 News Investigative Reporter/Journalist Dan Noyes who broke the story that they didn’t know anything about the More than $10,000,000.00 of PPE that was moved out of the SMC Event Center. They both were QUICK to identify this as a MISTAKE, and they had NO Idea how this happened, “They were calling in the Marines” and an Independent Investigation was going to be ordered to make sure this never happened again. Notice the Investigation was not meant to identify How many San Mateo County Employees knew about this and for how long.
Here is one of Mike Callagy’s employees who knew in September: Iliana Rodriguez,
I offer these 2 e-mails as a start, this is getting close to answer the question, Who Ordered the More than $10M of PPE to be moved from the secure and protected building at San Mateo County Event Center in September 2021?
Subject: PPE Update Hi Iliana, As you probably are aware, all PPE has been moved out of Fiesta Hall and is currently stored in a fenced area between Gates 9 & 10. The Red Cross was only able to take the 10 adjustable hospital beds (MASH type). Their storage area was not large enough to accommodate the remaining five bariatric beds nor the five “home style” hospital beds, all of which are in the outdoor storage area. The plan is to move as much as possible into Sequoia Hall after the SaaStr Conference, to protect it from the elements. The would require the County to rent Sequoia Hall as it would be filled with PPE. The following items would be relocated first. If any space remains, we will move the most useful of the remaining into Sequoia. Masks Gloves Beds All remaining FMS items and empty containers Bleach Please let me know if you are in agreement with the above.
Thanks, Steve
Next day September 28, 2022 e-mail confirms 5 people knew about it
Iliana Rodriguez Deputy County Manager County Manager’s Office400 County Center, 1st Floor Redwood City, CA 94063 Phone l 650-363-4130Email l irodriguez@smcgov.org
Why didn’t Scott Johnson, Iliana Rodriquez, Jas Sandhar, Dana Stoerh, Steve Perch, Avinesh Pal, come forward on January 13, 2022 and simply tell the truth?
April 19, 2022 BOS Meeting Agenda Item 12: Update Surplus Safety Equipment aka $10,000,000+ PPE at San Mateo County Event Center. The Government provided this Press Release about the meeting.
County of San Mateo Board Meeting Update: April 19, 2022
Yahoo/Inbox
San Mateo County <sanmateocounty@service.govdelivery.com>To:michaelgstogner@yahoo.comTue, Apr 19 at 2:09 PMActions from today’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting.The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors met via videoconference April 19, 2022. Below are the results of selected items on the agenda:HOUSING
Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Executive, or Director of Department of Housing as designee, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the County of San Mateo and the City of East Palo Alto for due diligence activities regarding a potential real property exchange.
Introduction of an uncodified ordinance approving a Military Equipment Use Policy for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and waive the reading of the ordinance in its entirety.
Introduction of an ordinance amending section 3.53.030 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code to add an exception to the prohibition on firearm possession on County Property, permitting a person to possess a firearm for the purpose of immediately turning in that firearm to the San Mateo County Sheriff or any person or persons designated by the Sheriff at a County-sanctioned firearm buyback event taking place on that County Property, and waive the reading of the ordinance in its entirety
A) Approving and adopting a form resolution from the State Department of Housing and Community Development, authorizing the County’s application to the Homekey Program for funding in a total amount not to exceed $22,074,495 to cover capital and operating expenses for a 53-unit hotel in the City of San Mateo (“Project”); and
B) Authorizing an allocation of up to $10,396,410 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, or other funds as determined by the County Executive, as a match of local funds from the County required by the Homekey Program, in the event the County’s application for funds from the Homekey Program for the Project is approved.
A) Authorizing and directing the Director of the Department of Housing, or designee, to execute an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Alta Housing Corporation (“Alta”) to afford the parties sufficient time to negotiate the terms of a Ground Lease Agreement and all documents evidencing and securing a predevelopment loan related to the operation and management of a permanent affordable housing development for homeless individuals and households/families or those who are at risk of homelessness (“project”) on County property located at 1818 EL Camino Real in Redwood City; and
B) Authorizing and directing the Director of the Department of Housing, or designee, in consultation with County Attorney, to negotiate and execute a Ground Lease Agreement and all documents evidencing and securing a predevelopment loan, in a total amount not to exceed $1,500,000 in Measure K funds, with Alta housing corporation, to cover costs associated with the operation and management of the subject property; and
C) Authorizing the Director of the Department of Housing, or designee, to execute contract amendments, which modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate).
The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to adopt the resolution. See Consent Agenda, Item No. 33, for more information.Videos are generally made available the same day as the board meeting unless delayed due to technical issues.
San Mateo County News.com is also requesting the Partnership Agreement mentioned above.
January 12, 2022 San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management DEM Director Daniel Belville who works directly for Mike Callagy communicated with James Brown President of Wine Country Marines out of Sonoma. The next day January 13, 2022 at 6:00 PM the WCM posted on their Facebook page:
WINECOUNTRYMARINES.ORG Large Donation of PPE The Wine Country Marines are excited to announce a partnership with the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management. Specifically, the County DEM has graciously donated to the Wine Country Marines a very large supply of excess inventory of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that they were p…
PPE Donation to Community Organizations Time & Location Jan 25, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM San Mateo, California
On January 17, 2022 I requested a copy of the Document for Donation of $10M PPE to Wine Country Marines James Brown.
From: Michael Stogner michaelgstogner@yahoo.com Date: Monday, January 17, 2022 at 10:55 AM To: Michelle Durand mdurand@smcgov.org Subject: Document for Donation of $10M PPE to Wine Country Marines James Brown CAUTION: This email originated from outside of San Mateo County. Unless you recognize the sender’s email address and know the content is safe, do not click links, open attachments or reply.
Hello Michelle, I hope things are going well for you. Could you please send me a copy of the Donation agreement to Wine County Marines, James Brown mentioned on his Facebook page January 13, 2022 6:00 PM The Wine Country Marines are excited to announce a partnership with the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management. Specifically, the County DEM has graciously donated to the Wine Country Marines a very large supply of excess inventory of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that they were provided by FEMA, to be shared with the community at large.
Thank You, Stay Safe Michael G. Stogner San Mateo County News.com
Caiti Busch <cbusch@smcgov.org>
To: Michael Stogner
Cc: Jennifer Stalzer
Thu, Apr 14 at 5:02 PM
Mr. Stogner,
There was no written agreement between the County and Wine Country Marines that predates the January 27, 2022 agreement I produced to you. There was no written agreement prior to January 13, 2022 at 6PM, and there is no separate Financial Agreement. Because Mr. Brown is not a County employee, I cannot know what he meant in his blog post, but as far as we are aware, he was not referring to a written record.
The reason I asked for this document is simple, every time someone gives me more than $10,000,000 of something I like to have some kind written verification, proof, evidence etc that I in fact do have the authority to distribute this PPE which was paid for with FEMA money.
It took San Mateo County Government 90 days to say the truth.
There was no written agreement between the County and Wine Country Marines on or before January 13, 2022.
April 5, 2022 Board of Supervisor Meeting, Supervisor Canepa asked President of the Board Don Horsley to place the Dr. Jim Lianides PPE “Independent Investigation” or “Progress Report” depending on who you talk to on a future Agenda of a regular meeting or a Special Meeting so that the Public would have the opportunity to discuss it. President Don Horsley approved that request.
Not one of the other 4 Supervisors had a comment about Dr. Jim Lianides 12 pages of words.
This e-mail explains alot, No wonder the pages Dr. Liaindes provided doesn’t look anything like an Independent Investigation, He wasn’t hired to do one. it’s that Simple.
Subject: Process Review Dear Colleagues, | retained the services of Jim Lianides, retired Superintendant of the Sequoia School District, to do a process review in regard to the storage and handling of PPE at the Event Center.
Best regards, Mike Mike Callagy (he/him)* County Manager Attorney Client Privilege Attorney Client Privilege County of San Mateo | 400 County Center, f* floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 650-363-4129mcallagy@smcgov.orgwww.smcgov.org
Notice none of the 5 Supervisors were included in the above e-mail.
San Mateo County Executive Officer Mike Callagy is an at-will employee who works directly for the 5 San Mateo County Supervisors.
More questions every day about the more than $10,000,000 of PPE at the San Mateo County Event Center.
Supervisor Warren SlocumSupervisor Dave PineSMC Supervisor David Canepa
$23.5 Million is an update, I’ll give you that. 1:37:18 mark
Agenda Item #5 Update on Event Center Surplus Safety Equipment
This was the title for Agenda Item 5 of the March 22, 2022 Board of Supervisors Meeting. That might explain why there was only ONE public comment on this topic.
The person that put this on the Agenda was San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy, with the approval of County Counsel.
I would say this was more of a regurgitation of the same story that Mr. Callagy has been promoting since January 13, 2022, when he told ABC 7 I-Team Investigative Reporter Dan Noyes that he knew nothing about it.
In San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy’s Presentation he fails to mention these three, that I reported on the day before in the above article.
Deputy County Manager Iliana Rodriguez, San Mateo County Chief Financial Officer Roberto Manchia, Department of Emergency Management Director Daniel Belville.
County Manager to the Board of Supervisors March 22, 2022 “I think the Important thing is that we are TRANSPARENT. We own up to it, and we learn from it”
I personally think the Important thing is tell the truth from the Get Go.
Let me give a simple example, On January 13, 2022 SMC County Manager Mike Callagy never mentions James Brown or the Wine Country Marines a 501-C in Sonoma. He did say “We brought in the Marines.”
He doesn’t mention Iliana Rodriquez of his office has been vetting James Brown and WCM since December 2021.
Mike Callagy, Don Horsley, David Canepa, Carole Groom, Warren Slocom and Dave Pine. You are NOT TRANSPARENT.
Red Flag 1:39:00 mark, “The other goods were eventually moved outside for temporary storage and were regrettably ah remained there during the significant storms last fall LEADING TO THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.” What do you know about this Independent Investigation so far? What is the scope of this Investigation? Is the Investigation about the significant storms? Why was there an update without having this Investigator make a presentation at the BOS meeting?
Red Flag 1:39:11 mark, “We’ve been lucky enough throughout this AFTER ACTION to really partner with Wine Country Marines to continue to work on distributing these surplus equipment. Everybody knows what an AFTER ACTION is, Right?
The residents of San Mateo County remember what the Foster City Gang of 3 did to their City Manager.
Foster City Manager Peter Prinejad was FIRED for ZERO reason. The residents of Los Altos Hills are the winners in that case they now have a Great City Manager.
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.
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.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors met via videoconference April 19, 2022. Below are the results of selected items on the agenda: HOUSING
San Mateo County News 