Spencer’s silence hurts airport
Our reporters called Spencer daily – multiple times daily – after getting word Sept. 21 about FBI raids at the former Norton Air Force Base and the gated mansion Spencer rents in Riverside.
Spencer waited 10 days to return those calls, telling our reporter Friday that he’s been visiting New York, where his father is recovering from surgery. We sincerely hope his father’s health is improving, but we would be remiss if we did not take Spencer to task for falling short on his responsibilities here in San Bernardino.
As developer of one of the region’s largest economic engines, Spencer’s silence on the raids and news that he and others are named in a federal investigation is inexcusable.
He said he expects to return to work at the airport Monday.
Until then, however, airport authorities must answer for Spencer, and questions about the disgraced Braniff Airways executive’s past and current dealings continue to pile up.
Spencer, who served time in a federal prison after he was convicted of bankruptcy fraud in connection with his work at Braniff, was named with other airport officials in federal search warrants alleging acts of criminal conspiracy, bribery, money laundering, theft and fraud involving programs receiving federal funds, as well as mail and wire fraud.
The warrants were used in the Sept. 21 FBI raids; investigators are trying to show a relationship among Spencer and San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, who chairs the San Bernardino International Airport Authority, which oversees operations of the former base; newly retired airport director Donald L. Rogers; aviation director Bill Ingraham and others.
All have denied any wrongdoing.
The raids came less than three months after the San Bernardino County Grand Jury issued a scathing report on the development and operations of the airport, paying particular attention to Spencer’s contracts and his work building passenger terminals there.
County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, who sits on the airport authority board, has been quite vocal about her disappointment in the raids and the serious questions raised by the Grand Jury report. More than once, she’s promised taxpayers she’ll “clean house” but has stopped short of calling for Spencer’s dismissal.
Spencer, who has received $7.4 million taxpayer dollars as developer fees and reimbursements while managing the $125 million construction of the terminals and an upscale aircraft refueling facility, can no longer avoid public scrutiny.
Airport officials took a leap of faith when they hired Spencer to ready the airport for passenger service, despite his troubled background. Now, they plan to hire an attorney to vet Spencer’s contracts.
In the meantime, the man who manages one of the region’s largest taxpayer-funded development projects, needs to step out of the shadows and start answering for himself.
