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Sanders Official Who Was Fired for Challenging Unethical Practices Files Wrongful Termination Suit
Johnny, Perhaps it was your continued tirade of insults that got you banned, not your positions. Remember that the U-T was one of the first publishing about the pension system. Remember that they have printed many, many anti-union editorials. I'd think that their position and yours would be in alignment. Their TOS is pretty standard. Here's a few quotes: "Do not post threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind." "Use common sense and good judgment when posting messages. Avoid posting hurtful or derogatory comments." I've written many times that I don't mind one bit if your viewpoint is in opposition to mine. I've had some good dialog with Don, Justice4all, etc. without all the insults flying. Without all the "welfare queen" and "Boom" crap. What I do mind is when you stretch the truth to 'prove' your point of view. Your bit about how all firefighters and cops start at $100K/year comes to mind, as does your claim that firefighters average $200K/year. Those bits of information just aren't true. Frankly, neither is half the stuff you "quote". Here's a challenge to you. Start providing citations for your work. Use actual government documents or studies. Then maybe you'll get some respect.— April 22, 2008 1:14 p.m.
Three Former City Officials Charged by SEC with Fraud Are Receiving Generous City Pensions
To his credit, Aguirre is apparently not participating in the retirement system as he promised. If he did, he'd make $57,400/year in retirement for life($4800/month), assuming that he gets reelected. And that's after only 8 years. So... yeah, those retirements are high. And some of those folks apparently didn't do a stellar job. But what would a comparable person in private industry make in those jobs? I have no idea. Oh, and disagree with allowing POSC to count towards vesting. Perhaps Don is correct and Uberuaga cut a deal when he got hired.— April 16, 2008 7:42 p.m.
Sanders Wants City To Pay Union President's Salary During Bargaining; Aguirre Says It's Against the Charter
Johnny, Yes, the cops received a 15% raise over 2 years. But they got a pay cut in the three years previous. So my statement stands. The net pay raise over 5 years was actually along the lines of 9%. I'm not saying that the citizens owe me anything, other than what is in my contract. (And yes, that included DROP) My point in disclosing my material possessions is that I'm not rich in the least. If CPA and attorneys are making less than me, it's likely because they aren't working full time. Again, the glut of part-time lawyers brings down the average salary. As it turns out, my sister is a CPA and makes a lot more than me. And Johnny, you see tax and immediately shut your mind. Once again, my primary reason for increasing taxes is NOT to increase pay or benefits. It's to increase services from bare bones to what the citizens deserve. This city needs an additional 21 fire stations, and about 100 additional firefighters each and every day. That's going to cost a bundle -- probably about $80 million a year, plus the infrastructure costs. Let's see, 20 fire stations at $5 million each for land and building. Huh, another $100 million. Oh wait, another $15-20 million in apparatus and equipment. You're not going to be able to cut the pension that much, no matter how much you want to. So what's your reasonable idea for funding that protection? Let's assume you can cut 10% from the pension system, or $16 million. Where are you going to get the rest? I'd really like to know.— April 16, 2008 7:32 p.m.
Sanders Wants City To Pay Union President's Salary During Bargaining; Aguirre Says It's Against the Charter
Don, that's basically my point in all of this. City workers in general are doing OK. Some are paid more than those in comparable jobs in the private sector. Some aren't. Most are paid less than those in comparable municipalities. Benefits are generally better than those in the private sector. Given the obscene pay of the heads of corporations, we should be working to bring the pay and benefits of the least paid up, not bring the pay of the middle class down. Johnny, you hound us about being paid too much. After 20 years with the city, I own (well, the bank owns) an 1100 square foot house and drive a 9 year old truck. And I'm doing better than most. Your anger is misdirected. Most of the tax increases I'd like to see are aimed at corporations, not the individual. Be angry at those corporations and their $14 million dollar a year CEO's. And again, I'm still more interested in putting more firefighters on the street than I am in raising my own pay.— April 16, 2008 6:34 a.m.
Sanders Wants City To Pay Union President's Salary During Bargaining; Aguirre Says It's Against the Charter
Wow Johnny, forget to go to your anger management class? First off, yes, that 15% was over five years. Second, there's no compounding, eh? So let's just say that I get a 5 year contract with 2% per year and I make 100 dollars at the start of the contract. I should make 10% more, or $110 in year five, right? Well, in year one, I get a 2% raise, so I get $102. In year two, I get $102 x 2% or $104.04. In year three, $106.12. In year 4, $108.24. In year 5, $110.40. That's not quite TITANIN, but it's not linear either. I don't know how your life is going. My wife has gotten raises in excess of 3% every year for the last five. So has my mom. In fact, everyone I know who works in the private sector has been doing just fine. Oh, and according to the 2006 California Bar survey, 26% of attorneys work less than 35 hours per week now. Perhaps that's why their pay is down. Perhaps they did poor cost to value analysis when choosing a law school or a career.— April 15, 2008 9:35 p.m.
Sanders Wants City To Pay Union President's Salary During Bargaining; Aguirre Says It's Against the Charter
Gee, Johnny, can't have a civil discussion without insults? The PD went for 3 years without a contract or raises -- instead they had pay cuts then. They then went 1 year with a 9% raise and will go 1 year with a 6% raise. That's a total of 5 years, with a total of 15%. That's less than 3% per year, when compounded. My point is that the PD was suffering a huge recruiting and retention problem, so something had to be done. You're acting like the PD is getting a huge raise, when in fact, they are still behind where they were 5 years ago.— April 15, 2008 4:26 p.m.
Sanders Wants City To Pay Union President's Salary During Bargaining; Aguirre Says It's Against the Charter
Actually, Johnny, the PD raise covered five years, for an average of 3% per year. Without compounding. Given that the CPI has risen by an average of 3.2% per year over the past 20 years and that the PD had money taken away from them during that time, they still are not where they were five years ago. Justice, the union president does receive a salary from the PD. That is what is in question here, if I interpret this correctly. The presidents of the unions in SD are given what's called "presidential leave" to attend to union business. I don't know about the cops, but I believe that this year firefighters will be contributing some of their own annual leave to that fund to allow the union president to attend to business for them.— April 15, 2008 9:16 a.m.
Pete’s return
Isn't that interesting -- the last time city workers struck was under Wilson. The next time they may strike is under Sanders. Coincidence?— April 15, 2008 9:09 a.m.
SEC Charges Five Former City Officials with Fraud for Roles in False Municipal Bond Filings
Don, The city is in much better shape now financially than it was then. The recent certified CAFR's will help. Getting back in the tax anticipation bond market will help smooth the bumps. It took 20+ years to get in this mess, and everyone wants to get out of it tomorrow. Sorry, but it will take time.— April 13, 2008 7:47 p.m.
SEC Charges Five Former City Officials with Fraud for Roles in False Municipal Bond Filings
No, the reason we cannot get bonds is because we cannot pay them back. By JohnnyVegas 9:36 a.m., Apr 13, 2008 ==================================== List for me please all the bond payments we've failed to make. You are partially correct about McGrory being the main cause of the problems in that he figured out how to fund the deficit spending of politicians. It was the politicians (namely Golding) who required him to do that.— April 13, 2008 11:06 a.m.