UKEN REPORT 3/1 – COD PRESIDENT MARTHA GARCIA FINALIST IN WALNUT

Less than two years after Martha Garcia was hired to lead College of the Desert, she is one of five finalists to become the next president of the state’s largest single campus community college district in Walnut, Mt. San Antonio. According to a news release from the college, the candidates, in alphabetical order, are: The final…

UKEN REPORT 2/27 – EARTHQUAKE OF QUESTIONS HITS COLLEGE OF THE DESERT

PALM DESERT — The question for some College of the Desert leaders isn’t so much what did they know and when did they know it, but better, what did some know and why did they not disclose it? In less than two months, questions have shaken the offices of President Martha Garcia, Trustee Rubén AríAztlán Pérez,…

The Palm Springs Post 2/17 – COD trustees go back to drawing board for planned Palm Springs campus

New designs are expected to take months and may still leave half the 27-acre site undeveloped. When and if a second phase will be developed on the remainder of the land remains unclear. Driving the news: During a regular meeting Thursday morning, the Board narrowly voted to move forward with a plan proposed by Trustee Joel…

Desert Sun 2/16 – College of the Desert to move forward with some of old Palm Springs campus plans

The College of the Desert Board of Trustees voted to move forward with amended plans for the Palm Springs campus. The catch: the plans approved don’t entirely exist. Approved plans will ultimately be a blend of incomplete designs drawn prior to 2021 with new additions that need to be made. Plans from 2021 are about…

UKEN 2/16 – ETHICS PROBE STEMS FROM COMPLAINTS AGAINST TRUSTEE PÉREZ

PALM DESERT — The College of the Desert Board of Trustees on Thursday appointed a subcommittee of Fred Jandt and Bonnie Stefan to review allegations against Trustee Rubén Pérez as part of an ethics probe. The ethics probe is in response to written complaints against Trustee Pérez for College of the Desert’s Code of Ethics…

UKEN REPORT 2/16 – TRUSTEE JOEL KINNAMON FIRED SERIES OF BOMBSHELLS AIMED AT COD PRESIDENT MARTHA GARCIA, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, MORE.

PALM DESERT — The ultimate 3-2 approval of the College of the Desert Palm Springs schematic design dated March 23, 2021, paled in comparison to the series of bombshells newly elected Area 4 Trustee Joel Kinnamon lobbed with a sense of calm, self-confidence and lack of theatrics. Kinnamon; Trustee Area 3 and Vice Chair Fred…

KESQ – 2/16 – College of the Desert Board adopts motion to combine plans for new Palm Springs campus

College of the Desert Board of Trustees approved a motion today to combine aspects of two separate schematic designs for the proposed Palm Springs Campus Development Project. The motion was written and proposed by current Trustee and former COD Superintendent/President Dr. Joel Kinnamon, and reads as follows: Motion that the Palm Springs schematic design dated March…

COLLEGE OF DESERT TRUSTEE RUBÉN PÉREZ STANDS FIRM BEHIND HIS WORDS

“I completely disagree with the censureship as it is my First Amendment right to speak my thoughts and feel this is a violation of that constitutional right. Furthermore, my constituents elected me to speak truth to power and this censureship would prevent those same constituents who have historically been silenced to continue to be silenced. I know…

COD TRUSTEE KINNAMON ALLEGES POTENTIAL ‘ILLEGAL’ ACTIVITY USED AGAINST HIM IN CAMPAIGN, SEEKS EXTERNAL FORENSIC AUDIT TO REVIEW EMAILS – UKEN Report

PALM DESERT — Much of Joel Kinnamon’s campaign was built on the platform of “Getting COD Back on Track” by expressing his commitment to the public of providing accountability, transparency and fiscal responsibility. He’s wasting no time in making good on that commitment. He boldly called for a forensic audit in January at his first meeting…